Companies selling powdered caffeine are in the hot seat lately due to several deaths. They are distributing deadly doses of this potentially deadly compound without due approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration. The regulatory company said on Tuesday that they already sent warning letters to five producers of pure powdered caffeine.
The pure form of caffeine already killed two teens, FDA warns. A teaspoon of this product is equivalent to roughly 28 cups of coffee. With inaccurate measurements, overdose is inevitable and it can be lethal. In fact, a 100-gram pack of this product can have as much caffeine as 400 tall coffees of Starbucks. This is also equivalent to around 1,250 cans of Red Bull, NBC News reports.
In FDA's Safety Alerts and Advisories, they reiterated the potential dangers of this product. They are warning consumers to avoid purchasing it especially those sold over the internet. Pure caffeine is a powerful stimulant and even small amounts may cause accidental overdose.
Accidental overdose can manifest symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, disorientation, and caffeine toxicity. For severe cases, it may rapidly increase the heartbeat that may lead to seizures and even death.
The New York Times reports that one company the FDA warned due to distribution of pure caffeine was Bridge City Bulk. They said that the products sold over the internet are packed to contain an amount that would be lethal to many consumers. Lastly, they reprimanded the company to take prompt action to correct their violations.
Another company, Smartpowders, also received a warning letter from FDA stating, "It is unclear why your product label provides the information that one-quarter teaspoon of your product is 574 milligrams, since this amount is well in excess of the serving size that your label recommends."
FDA added, "Pure powdered caffeine products are potentially dangerous, and serious adverse events can result, including death. People with pre-existing heart conditions should not use them."