FDA: Stay away from powdered caffeine
The FDA has issued a warning against the consumption of powdered caffeine, which has much higher amounts of the drug than coffee drinks and can be lethal, even in small doses.
The warning comes after a teenage boy died of an overdose of powdered caffeine in May.
"The difference between a safe amount and a lethal dose of caffeine in these powdered products is very small," Jennifer Dooren, an FDA spokesperson, told the Associated Press. A single teaspoon of caffeine powder contains the caffeine equivalent of 25 cups of coffee.
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The FDA is currently investigating caffeine powder and will "consider taking regulatory action," the AP reports. Unlike caffeine in soda or coffee, caffeine powder is unregulated.
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Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.
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