Q&As

Caffeine Content in Beverages

Does caffeine intake increase the risk of miscarriage?

A cause and effect relationship between caffeine intake and miscarriage has not been established. In fact, a 2008 study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and published in the journal Epidemiology found “little indication of possible harmful effects of caffeine on miscarriage risk within the range of coffee and caffeine consumption reported.”

Moderate caffeine consumption has been recognized as safe – even for pregnant women – by a wide range of experts and government agencies, including the March of Dimes, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Canada and the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists.

Women who are trying to conceive or who suspect that they might be pregnant should seek out, consult with and heed the advice of their health care provider.

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Where does caffeine come from and how is it used?

Caffeine is found in the leaves, seeds or fruits of at least 63 plant species worldwide. The most commonly known sources of caffeine are coffee, cocoa beans, kola nuts and tea leaves.

Cola soft drinks containing caffeine have been around since the late 19th century. Most of the caffeine in cola soft drinks is added during the beverage formulation process. Caffeine is also added to some non-cola soft drinks. For children and young adults, the primary sources of caffeine are tea and soft drink products. Caffeine intake for adults 25 and over is mostly from coffee beverages.

Caffeine levels in popular products are as follows:

Product	Range
Coffee, 8oz drip	104-192 mg
Tea, 8oz brewed	20-90
Iced Tea, 8 oz	9-50
Soft Drinks, 8 oz	20-40
Cocoa Beverage, 8oz	3-32
Milk Chocolate, 1 oz	1-15
Dark Chocolate, 1 oz	5-35

Does caffeine have a flavor?

Yes, caffeine tastes bitter. This bitter taste adds to the overall, complex flavor profile of caffeinated soft drinks

Is caffeine safe?

Yes. Typical dietary levels of caffeine are safe. Caffeine’s safety as a food ingredient is widely accepted in the U.S. and around the world. Over 140 countries have specifically considered the safety of caffeine and allow its use in beverages at various levels.

Notably, the average caffeine level in most U.S. carbonated soft drinks is well below the level that FDA has determined is GRAS for cola beverages. The FDA “found no evidence to show that the use of caffeine in carbonated beverages would render these products injurious to health.”

Is caffeine addictive?

No. Addiction is a loosely used and, at times, loaded word that means different things to different people and is often defined differently by members of the general public. Caffeine can be a mild stimulant that may increase alertness. People who say they are “addicted” to caffeine tend to use the term loosely, like saying they are “addicted” to chocolate, running, shopping, working, or television.

However, caffeine is not “addictive” as experts in the scientific community define the term. In the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the authoritative text of the American Psychiatric Association, caffeine is not classified as causing “substance dependence.”

Unlike drugs of abuse, people who choose to consume foods and beverages that contain caffeine can control or moderate their caffeine intake. Most people who consume caffeine maintain a relatively consistent level of intake.

Caffeine is a safe ingredient in both foods and drugs. It is regulated as a food in soft drinks, coffees and teas, chocolate products and other foods and beverages. These food uses are long-standing and have consistently been considered safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA also regulates caffeine as a safe and effective non-prescription drug, and it is present in some over-the-counter (OTC) medicines.

Can people easily stop consuming caffeinated beverages?

Scientific studies confirm that although many people enjoy caffeinated products, those who choose to stop consuming or reduce caffeine in their diets can do so without serious difficulty. The side effects some people experience when they stop consuming caffeine, such as headaches, tend to be mild and pass within a few days. Most people can avoid these effects by gradually reducing intake over a short period.

It is also important to remember that with coffee’s popularity, many people consume much more caffeine by drinking coffee than they do by consuming soft drinks. A typical cup of coffee has considerably more caffeine than the typical soft drink.

Is caffeine added to soft drinks as a stimulant?

Caffeine is part of the overall profile of the soft drinks our customers enjoy for refreshment, taste and hydration. The presence of caffeine in certain soft drinks is grounded in the long history of those drinks. For over 100 years, the formulas for soft drinks have carefully balanced varied ingredients to strike the right combination for refreshment, enjoyment and taste. Every ingredient in soft drinks is chosen with an eye to this history and the clear expression of consumer preference. Caffeine’s subtle bitter taste adds to the overall, complex flavor profile of caffeinated soft drinks.

Is caffeine listed on product labels?

Consistent with federal regulations, beverage companies list caffeine on product labels when it is added as an ingredient. There is no requirement to list the precise amount of caffeine present. Nonetheless, for a number of years, ABA member companies have provided caffeine content information through their corporate 1-800 numbers and Web sites. The ABA also provides guidelines on the voluntary quantitative labeling of caffeine.