The Canadian nonalcoholic beverage sector wants to set the record straight about several factual errors in the editorial “‘Caffeinating’ children and youth.” 1
We strongly agree that energy drinks should be marketed responsibly. However, it is important to understand the Canadian regulatory context for these products, which is already the most stringent in the world.
In Canada, energy drinks are formulated, labelled and marketed in accordance with Health Canada’s Natural Health Product Regulation and policies. They are not regulated or labelled as foods, as suggested in the editorial.
Energy drinks must be marketed in compliance with the Consumer Advertising Guidelines for Marketed Health Products. 2 Energy drinks are intended for adults; the labels clearly indicate that this category of beverage is not recommended for children and people who are sensitive to caffeine, and they include warnings not to mix the beverage with alcohol. Unlike coffee and iced coffee beverages, which have no warnings or quantitative labelling, all energy drinks declare levels of caffeine from all sources (natural and synthetic).
In Canada, mainstream energy drinks contain less caffeine by volume than a cup of filter drip coffee (80–140 mg per energy drink v. 179 mg per 237 mL cup of coffee). Labels on energy drinks advise consumers to have only one drink per day. Nowhere in this country are there energy drinks with caffeine levels approaching those suggested in the editorial.
We do agree that education on the proper consumption of this unique product category is important — which is why the industry has offered to partner with Health Canada on a consumer education campaign. The campaign needs to sensitize all Canadians to the sources of caffeine in their diets and to Health Canada’s recommended intake levels of 400 mg/d per person and 2.5 mg/kg of body weight for children under the age of 12.
Energy drinks have been the subject of extensive review and analysis by regulatory authorities worldwide. Without exception, these reviews have confirmed the safety of these products in markets around the world.
Footnotes
-
Competing interests: Justin Sherwood represents the nonalcoholic beverage sector.
For the full letter, go to: www.cmaj.ca/cgi/eletters/cmaj.100953v2#594265