Public Concern about the Sale of High-Caffeine Drinks to Children 12 Years or Younger: An Australian Regulatory Perspective
Table 1
Regulatory measures specific to the management of caffeine in food in Australia [22, 24, 25].
Regulatory measure
Key requirements
Standard 2.6.4 of the Code-Formulated Caffeinated Beverages
Must contain between 145 mg/L and 320 mg/L of caffeine and comply with labelling provisions disclosing nutrient composition including caffeine content (per serving and per 100 mL), along with daily usage and warnings that product is not suitable for children, pregnant, or lactating women
Standard 1.3.1 of the Code-Food Additives
Caffeine is approved as a food additive (flavour) in cola type drinks to a maximum amount of 145 mg/L
Standard 2.6.2 of the Code-Non-Alcoholic Beverages and Brewed Soft Drinks
Caffeine is prohibited as an ingredient in formulated beverage products
Standard 1.2.4 of the Code-Labelling of Ingredients
Caffeine must be included in the ingredient list where caffeine is added to the food
Standard 1.2.3 of the Code-Mandatory Warning and Advisory Statements and Declarations
Foods that contain guarana (rich in caffeine) are required to have an advisory statement on the label that the food contains caffeine. Other foods such as coffee, tea, and cocoa are not required to declare the presence of caffeine
New Zealand Food Safety Authority. New Zealand Food (Supplemented Food) Standard 2013
Foods that meet the definition of supplemented foods (excluding foods that meet the definition specified in Standard 2.6.4 of the Code) may contain caffeine for purposes other than as an additive. If containing more caffeine than is required to achieve a technological function under conditions of Good Manufacturing Practice the label on the package of supplemented food must include caffeine content (per serving and per 100 mL), along with daily usage and warnings that product is not suitable for children, pregnant, or lactating women Guarana may be added to a supplemented food, with the restriction that the label must include an advisory statement that the food contains caffeine
