title: Regulatory status of caffeine in the United States.
abstract: This article summarizes the history of the regulation of caffeine, a key component of caffeine-containing energy drinks and other caffeine-containing energy products, in the United States. Caffeine as an ingredient in food has been regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 1958, when the Food Additives Amendment to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act was enacted. It is listed as a substance that is generally recognized as safe by experts for its intended use in cola-type beverages at levels not to exceed 200 parts per million. Here, the history of FDA evaluations of the safe use of, as well as consumer exposure to, caffeine in food in the United States is outlined. Finally, the FDA's current concerns about caffeine and caffeine-containing energy products are reported, along with the current activities to address those concerns.
authors.affiliation: Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Office of Food Additive Safety, Division of Biotechnology and GRAS Notice Review, US Food and Drug Administration, College Park, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Leah S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
authors.forename: Jeremy J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mihalov
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mattia
mesh_terms: D002110:Caffeine / Q000266:history; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000266:history; D004032:Diet / Q000266:history; D061215:Energy Drinks; D033161:Government Regulation / Q000266:history; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration / Q000266:history
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D002110:Caffeine
keywords: FDA regulations; caffeine; energy drinks; energy products