The Food and Drug Administration has vocalized its concern on the use of potent powdered caffeine in the market. The marketing of the said product cannot be fully controlled by the government agency because it is often sold online through stores. Apparently, the said potent powdered caffeine has killed two men this year, 24-year old Wade Sweatt and 18-year old Logan Stiner.
Powdered caffeine can bring about the same jolt of 25 cups of coffee with just one teaspoon. Last year, a man died from ingesting two teaspoons of the said powder that brought his body the jolt of 70 red bulls worth of caffeine.
Wade Sweatt has thought that he has found a healthier way to kick start his mornings instead of drinking his usual coffee and Coca-Cola throughout his day. He then found out about powdered caffeine through the internet and mixed it with water or milk. His father, James Sweatt recalled how his son thought that this supplement is healthier than getting all the sugar and artificial sweeteners from drinking sodas and diet Cokes.
When Wade tried the powder for the first time, the effect wasn't what they expected. The 24-year old used too much powder and within a few minutes, his heart raced out of control and suddenly stopped. He was revived after ambulance paramedics and doctors in the hospital were able to help his heart beat again. However, his condition did not progress and he fell into a coma. Eventually, he died.
Wade's parents are now advocating for the regulation of powdered caffeine. In fact, they have teamed up by another couple Katie and Dennis Stiner, the parents of the 18-year old boy named Logan who died in May after ingesting the same kind of powder.
They are appealing for the Food and Drug Administration to ban the said powder from the market. In response, the Food and Drug Administration is warning its consumers about the danger of powdered caffeine. They have initiated calling companies who are selling the product to voluntarily take the product out of the market.
According to Michael Taylor, the FDA's deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine, "It's fundamentally irresponsible to be selling this powerful drug in this form to consumers." He calls the product a dangerous, potent drug that, if taken in as little as a teaspoon, runs the risk of being a lethal overdose to people.
