Laura Keaver1, Susannah Gilpin2, Joana Caldeira Fernandes da Silva2, Claire Buckley3, Cliodhna Foley-Nolan2. 1. 1Department of Life Sciences,Institute of Technology Sligo,Ash Lane,Sligo,Co. Sligo,Republic of Ireland. 2. 2Safefood,Little Island,Co. Cork,Republic of Ireland. 3. 4Department of Epidemiology and Public Health,University College Cork,Cork,Co. Cork,Republic of Ireland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the caffeine and sugar content of all energy drinks available on the island of Ireland. DESIGN: Two retail outlets were selected from each of: multinational, convenience and discount stores in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and all available single-serve energy drinks were purchased. The cross-sectional survey was conducted in February 2015 and brand name, price, volume, caffeine and sugar content were recorded for each product. Descriptive analysis was performed. RESULTS: Seventy-eight products were identified on the island of Ireland (regular, n 59; diet/sugar-free/light, n 19). Caffeine and sugar content was in the range of 14-35 mg and 2·9-15·6 g per 100 ml, respectively. Mean caffeine content of 102·2 mg per serving represents 25·6 % of the maximum intake advised for adults by the European Food Safety Authority. Per serving, mean sugar content of regular energy drinks was 37 g. This exceeds WHO recommendations for maximum daily sugar intake of <5 % of total energy intake (25 g for adults consuming 8368 kJ (2000 kcal) diet). If displaying front-of-pack labelling, fifty-seven of the fifty-nine regular energy drinks would receive a Food Standards Agency 'red' colour-coded label for sugar. CONCLUSIONS: Energy drinks are freely available on the island of Ireland and all products surveyed can be defined as highly caffeinated products. This has potential health issues particularly for children and adolescents where safe limits of caffeine have not been determined. Energy drinks surveyed also contained high levels of sugar and could potentially contribute to weight gain and adverse dental health effects.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the caffeine and sugar content of all energy drinks available on the island of Ireland. DESIGN: Two retail outlets were selected from each of: multinational, convenience and discount stores in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and all available single-serve energy drinks were purchased. The cross-sectional survey was conducted in February 2015 and brand name, price, volume, caffeine and sugar content were recorded for each product. Descriptive analysis was performed. RESULTS: Seventy-eight products were identified on the island of Ireland (regular, n 59; diet/sugar-free/light, n 19). Caffeine and sugar content was in the range of 14-35 mg and 2·9-15·6 g per 100 ml, respectively. Mean caffeine content of 102·2 mg per serving represents 25·6 % of the maximum intake advised for adults by the European Food Safety Authority. Per serving, mean sugar content of regular energy drinks was 37 g. This exceeds WHO recommendations for maximum daily sugar intake of <5 % of total energy intake (25 g for adults consuming 8368 kJ (2000 kcal) diet). If displaying front-of-pack labelling, fifty-seven of the fifty-nine regular energy drinks would receive a Food Standards Agency 'red' colour-coded label for sugar. CONCLUSIONS: Energy drinks are freely available on the island of Ireland and all products surveyed can be defined as highly caffeinated products. This has potential health issues particularly for children and adolescents where safe limits of caffeine have not been determined. Energy drinks surveyed also contained high levels of sugar and could potentially contribute to weight gain and adverse dental health effects.
Entities:
Keywords:
Energy drinks; Island of Ireland; Obesity; Sugar
Authors: Chuyao Jin; Lizi Lin; Chenxiong Li; Yuanzhou Peng; Graham A MacGregor; Fengjun He; Haijun Wang Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2019-08-20 Impact factor: 3.295