To the Editor,
Re: Booster truths: revealing caffeine’s dark side (Alberni Valley News, Dec. 5)
The Canadian Beverage Association (CBA) would like to address some comments made in a recent article on energy drinks as well as inform your readers on Health Canada’s current regulatory transition of energy drinks.
Under Health Canada’s guidance energy drinks are moving from Natural Health Products (NHPs) to foods. Energy drinks currently, and will continue to after the transition, carry mandatory labelling that declares caffeine from all sources as well as including stating that energy drinks are not recommended for children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or people who are sensitive to caffeine, and are not recommended to be mixed with alcohol.
As part of the transition, Health Canada has capped the total amount of caffeine allowed in energy drinks at 400 mg per litre. This means that a small single-serving energy drink (e.g. 250 mL can) will be capped at 80 mg of caffeine while larger single-serving containers (e.g. 473 mL up to 750 mL can) will be capped at 180 mg of caffeine.
To put that in perspective if you look at a typical eight-ounce (237 mL) serving, Canadians get 30 mg of caffeine from a cola, 80 mg of caffeine from an average small can energy drink (180 mg caffeine in a large 473 mL can) or 96 mg of caffeine from an extra small Tim Hortons Iced Cap.
This regulatory change will closer align how energy drinks are sold in Canada with those sold in 160 countries.
The CBA believes that Canadians need all the facts available about energy drinks. Our goal is to help provide accurate and science based information so Canadians are able to make informed beverage choices for themselves and their families.
Jim Goetz,
president,
Canadian Beverage Association
