Dangerous caffeine powder continues in the criticism

Food inspection checks caffeine powder

28.07.2011

The caffeine powder available at Berlin kiosks with the name „Coffaina stay awake“ continues to cause a stir. After doctors warned about the possible side effects of caffeine powder last week, the responsible supervisory authority now also intervenes and has samples of the powder checked in the state laboratory Berlin-Brandenburg.

According to the spokeswoman of the Berlin Senate Department for Health, Environment and Consumer Protection, Regina Kneiding, the composition of the caffeine powder theoretically also to be acquired by children and adolescents at the Berlin Kiosk is currently being investigated by the competent veterinary and food regulatory authority. While doctors warn of dangerous side effects and search experts also expressed concerns, the manufacturer can not understand the criticism of their product.

Composition of caffeine powder is checked
As part of the investigation by the Berlin Veterinary and Food Supervision Office, it should be checked whether the composition of the caffeine powder is actually made of sugar and 120 milligrams of pure caffeine and if the bags are marketable with the white powder in its present form, said Renate Kneiding , The Senate Administration expects initial results in about two to three weeks. In the sensory examination, however, an extremely bitter taste had been noted, which is likely to put off children, according to the spokeswoman for the Berlin Senate Administration for Health, Environment and Consumer Protection.

Threatening side effects of caffeine powder
The caffeine powder „Coffaina stay awake“ was heavily criticized early last week after media had reported on the sale to Berlin kiosks. The caffeine powder bags available for two euros could theoretically also get into the hands of children and cause serious side effects, so the fear of medical experts and search experts. Patients with cardiac arrhythmia, cirrhosis of the liver and hyperthyroidism also face health problems when using caffeine powder, said the spokeswoman of the Association of German Pharmacists Associations (ABDA), Ursula Sellerberg „World Online“. The above-mentioned risk patients are not allowed to take more than 100 milligrams of caffeine per day, the expert emphasized. The same applies to women in pregnancy and nursing mothers. In massive overdoses with intake levels above one gram of caffeine threaten poisoning symptoms such as palpitations (tachycardia), muscle tremors, headaches and cramps, so Sellerberg on.

Warning of overdoses
Although the kiosk operators on the back of the packaging of caffeine powder to be prompted „Coffaina stay awake“ not to sell to children and according to the manufacturer's statements, the sellers were also explained in personal talks, „that this is not for children“. However, the transfer to minors is not generally prohibited and so it may be doubted whether the warnings also stored on the associated Facebook page are always respected. Actually, the caffeine powder should serve as a substitute for the well-known energy drinks and increase the staying power of the Berlin party folk in the nights, said the 30-year-old owner of the manufacturer „2Drinks Company“. „Our target group are young people from the age of 25. The common energy drinks are often too sweet for them“, so the statement of the manufacturer. The caffeine powder is mixed by the consumer in a drink to develop there its awakening effect. According to the information on the packaging, caffeine-containing drinks are not suitable for this purpose and the producer warns against overdosing.

Health impairments caused by caffeine
Physicians such as the pediatrician of the Berlin Charité, Stephan Henning, had already warned at the beginning of last week of the threatening side effects of caffeine powder. The natural active, which is also found in numerous plants such as guarana, coffee, mate and tea, stimulates the central nervous system, increases the heart rate, raises blood pressure and thus relieves fatigue. However, this can lead to significant side effects such as headaches, fatigue, muscle aches, nervousness, sleep disorders and sweating, warned Stephan Henning „World Online“. According to the expert, even higher doses may even threaten serious health consequences such as cardiac arrhythmias. Over time, the body gets used to the caffeine, the side effects may go back, but now similar symptoms as described above may occur in caffeine. According to the expert, children react far more sensitively to caffeine, so that a dose of around seven milligrams of caffeine per kilogram of body weight is enough to cause serious side effects. Ursula Sellerberg, spokeswoman for the Association of German Pharmacist Associations (ABDA), added that the potentially lethal dose for nicotine is three to ten grams. A deadly overdose was „however, rare, as vomiting is rapid after oral intake of overdoses.“

Sales of caffeine powder at kiosks extremely controversial
According to the ABDA spokeswoman, the sale is the „Coffaina“-Tütchen at the Berlin kiosks no problem, as long as the powder is not sold for medical purposes. Sellerberg explained: „If the product was supposed to help with spasmodic sleep seizures, it would have to be approved.“ But fatigue is not a disease and the caffeine powder is therefore freely available, said the ABDA spokeswoman. In addition, caffeine tablets in similar dosage can be purchased without prescription in any pharmacy, so Sellerberg on. The managing director of the German main office for addiction question, Raphael Gaßmann, can not however share the position of the ABDA spokeswoman. „In a pharmacy there is a different environment than in the kiosk“, explained Gassmann and added: „You will not give these tablets to a child, even if no law speaks against it.“ In addition, the caffeine powder can also be dangerous, although it is legal. Because with the powder, a deliberate overdose can be achieved much easier than, for example, with coffee or energy drinks, explained Gassmann.

Manufacturer of caffeine powder rejects allegations
The manufacturer is currently fighting energetically against the emerging allegations and referred to this as something out of thin air. In particular, the accusation that he seduce teens with the white powder to early drug use, dismissed the owner of the manufacturer massively. „Anyone who immediately thinks of something like that probably has to do with drugs themselves“, the young entrepreneur talks to „World Online“ on the offensive. In addition, give „It also buy baking soda and glucose, because nobody has anything against it“, the 30-year-old continues. However, it should also cause a stir and indignation, if baking soda and glucose would be sold as powder in small bags that carry an inscription that reminds suspiciously of the intoxicant cocaine. Hardly surprising, therefore, that the critics of the manufacturer of „Coffaina“ accuse, in naming and product design deliberately to have played with the proximity to the drug. In addition, the comparison with baking soda and dextrose lags anyway, since these can cause no comparable side effects, such as the caffeine powder sold at the Berlin kiosks. (Fp)

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Image: Claudia Hautumm