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Consumer Reports: Caffeine amounts hidden in many foods
Many foods with substantial amounts of caffeine don't list it among their ingredients, making it easier for consumers, especially children, to unwittingly ingest it, Consumer Reports magazine says. For example, it said, a child who consumes a can of Mountain Dew soda, one cup of Starbucks Coffee Java Chip ice cream and a half-cup of M&M's has taken in a total of 128 milligrams of caffeine. There is no U.S. government guideline, but the Canadian government recommends a daily limit of just 85 mg for 10-to-12-year-olds.
Many caffeine sources may not be obvious or consistent, the magazine said Monday. Sunkist Orange soda has about the same amount as Coke or Pepsi, while Minute Maid Orange soda is caffeine-free, it said. Consumer Reports said the Food and Drug Administration currently requires that caffeine be listed as an ingredient only when it has been added. However, the amount need not be specified.
Petitions asking that labels specify caffeine amounts have been under review for six years, the magazine said. Caffeine is found naturally in the leaves, seeds, and fruits of more than 60 plants, including tea leaves, kola nuts, coffee, and cocoa beans. It is in coffee, tea, chocolate, cocoa and many carbonated beverages such as colas. See the charts below for additional information on sources and amounts.
Caffeine is frequently added to over-the-counter medications such as pain relievers, appetite suppressants, and cold medicines. Caffeine has no flavor and can be removed from a food by a chemical process called decaffeination.
Few caffeine tests including children have been conducted, but the magazine says current knowledge indicates that caffeine has the same effect on children that it does on adults -- jitters and anxiousness. "As you increase the dose, you get into anxiety, insomnia and tension," Roland Griffiths, a professor in psychiatry and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University, told the magazine.
Estimate your caffeine intake below.
Beverages:
Item Item Size Caffeine Content (mg)
Coffee 150 ml (5 oz) 60-150
Coffee, decaf 150 ml (5 oz) 2-5
Tea 150 ml (5 oz) 40-80
Hot Cocoa 150 ml (5 oz) 1-8
Chocolate Milk 225 ml 2-7
Jolt Cola 12 oz 71
Josta 12 oz 58
Mountain Dew 12 oz 54
Surge 12 oz 51
Tab 12 oz 47
Diet Coca Cola 12 oz 46
Coca Cola 12 oz 46
Tab 12 oz 46
RC Cola 12 oz 43
Dr. Pepper 12 oz 41
Mr. Pibb 12 oz 40
Pepsi Cola 12 oz 38
Cherry Coca-Cola 8 oz 31
7-Up 12 oz 0
Mug Root Beer 12 oz 0
Sprite 12 oz 0
Foods
Item Item Size Caffeine Content (mg)
Ben/Jerry No Fat Coffee
Fudge Froz. Yog. 1 cup 85
Starbucks Coffee Ice Cream 1 cup 40-60
Dannon Coffee Yogurt 8 oz. 45
Chocolate Bar 50 g 3-63
Chunky Bar 1 bar (40 g) 11.6
100 Grand Bar 1 bar (43 g) 11.2
Nestle Crunch Bar 1 bar (40 g) 10
Krackel Bar 1 bar (47 g) 8.5
Peanut Butter Cup 1 pk (51 g) 5.6
Kit Kat Bar 1 bar (46 g) 5
Mr. Goodbar 1 bar (50 g) 5
Raisinets 10 pieces (10 g) 2.5
Butterfinger Bar 1 bar (61 g) 2.4
Baby Ruth Bar 1 bar (60 g) 2.4
Special Dark Sweet Chocolate Bar 1 bar (41 g) 31
Chocolate Brownie 1.25 oz 8
Chocolate Chip Cookie 30 g 3-5
Chocolate Ice Cream 50 g 2-5
Milk Chocolate 1 oz 1-15
Bittersweet Chocolate 1 oz 5-35
Butterfinger Bar 1 bar (2.16 oz) 2
After Eight Mint 2 pc (8 g) 1.6
Jell-O Pudding Pop
Chocolate 1 bar (77 g) 2
Non-prescription Drugs
Item (1 tablet or capsule) Caffeine Content(mg)
Dextrim 200
Vivarin 200
No Doz 100
Excedrin 65
Vanquish 33
Anacin 32
Midol 32
Triaminicin 30
Dristan 16
Many foods with substantial amounts of caffeine don't list it among their ingredients, making it easier for consumers, especially children, to unwittingly ingest it, Consumer Reports magazine says. For example, it said, a child who consumes a can of Mountain Dew soda, one cup of Starbucks Coffee Java Chip ice cream and a half-cup of M&M's has taken in a total of 128 milligrams of caffeine. There is no U.S. government guideline, but the Canadian government recommends a daily limit of just 85 mg for 10-to-12-year-olds.
Many caffeine sources may not be obvious or consistent, the magazine said Monday. Sunkist Orange soda has about the same amount as Coke or Pepsi, while Minute Maid Orange soda is caffeine-free, it said. Consumer Reports said the Food and Drug Administration currently requires that caffeine be listed as an ingredient only when it has been added. However, the amount need not be specified.
Petitions asking that labels specify caffeine amounts have been under review for six years, the magazine said. Caffeine is found naturally in the leaves, seeds, and fruits of more than 60 plants, including tea leaves, kola nuts, coffee, and cocoa beans. It is in coffee, tea, chocolate, cocoa and many carbonated beverages such as colas. See the charts below for additional information on sources and amounts.
Caffeine is frequently added to over-the-counter medications such as pain relievers, appetite suppressants, and cold medicines. Caffeine has no flavor and can be removed from a food by a chemical process called decaffeination.
Few caffeine tests including children have been conducted, but the magazine says current knowledge indicates that caffeine has the same effect on children that it does on adults -- jitters and anxiousness. "As you increase the dose, you get into anxiety, insomnia and tension," Roland Griffiths, a professor in psychiatry and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University, told the magazine.
Estimate your caffeine intake below.
Beverages:
Item Item Size Caffeine Content (mg)
Coffee 150 ml (5 oz) 60-150
Coffee, decaf 150 ml (5 oz) 2-5
Tea 150 ml (5 oz) 40-80
Hot Cocoa 150 ml (5 oz) 1-8
Chocolate Milk 225 ml 2-7
Jolt Cola 12 oz 71
Josta 12 oz 58
Mountain Dew 12 oz 54
Surge 12 oz 51
Tab 12 oz 47
Diet Coca Cola 12 oz 46
Coca Cola 12 oz 46
Tab 12 oz 46
RC Cola 12 oz 43
Dr. Pepper 12 oz 41
Mr. Pibb 12 oz 40
Pepsi Cola 12 oz 38
Cherry Coca-Cola 8 oz 31
7-Up 12 oz 0
Mug Root Beer 12 oz 0
Sprite 12 oz 0
Foods
Item Item Size Caffeine Content (mg)
Ben/Jerry No Fat Coffee
Fudge Froz. Yog. 1 cup 85
Starbucks Coffee Ice Cream 1 cup 40-60
Dannon Coffee Yogurt 8 oz. 45
Chocolate Bar 50 g 3-63
Chunky Bar 1 bar (40 g) 11.6
100 Grand Bar 1 bar (43 g) 11.2
Nestle Crunch Bar 1 bar (40 g) 10
Krackel Bar 1 bar (47 g) 8.5
Peanut Butter Cup 1 pk (51 g) 5.6
Kit Kat Bar 1 bar (46 g) 5
Mr. Goodbar 1 bar (50 g) 5
Raisinets 10 pieces (10 g) 2.5
Butterfinger Bar 1 bar (61 g) 2.4
Baby Ruth Bar 1 bar (60 g) 2.4
Special Dark Sweet Chocolate Bar 1 bar (41 g) 31
Chocolate Brownie 1.25 oz 8
Chocolate Chip Cookie 30 g 3-5
Chocolate Ice Cream 50 g 2-5
Milk Chocolate 1 oz 1-15
Bittersweet Chocolate 1 oz 5-35
Butterfinger Bar 1 bar (2.16 oz) 2
After Eight Mint 2 pc (8 g) 1.6
Jell-O Pudding Pop
Chocolate 1 bar (77 g) 2
Non-prescription Drugs
Item (1 tablet or capsule) Caffeine Content(mg)
Dextrim 200
Vivarin 200
No Doz 100
Excedrin 65
Vanquish 33
Anacin 32
Midol 32
Triaminicin 30
Dristan 16