Caffeine — Too much

From BBC News:

US officials are investigating the safety of caffeine in snacks and energy drinks, worried about the “cumulative impact” of the stimulant – which is added to a growing number of products. Is our tea and coffee-fuelled society too dependent on the world’s favourite drug?

The bubbling kettle, the aroma from the mug, the first bitter mouthful of the morning.

It’s a ritual without which the working day would be, for millions of people, frankly horrifying.

Caffeine is, according to New Scientist, the planet’s most popular “psychoactive drug.” In the United States alone, more than 90% of adults are estimated to use it every day.

But now even the US – home of Coca-Cola, Starbucks and the 5-Hour Energy shot – is questioning the wisdom of adding it to everyday foodstuffs like waffles, sunflower seeds, trail mix and jelly beans.

In a statement, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) highlighted the “unfortunate example” of Wrigley chewing gum producing packs of eight sticks which each contained as much caffeine as half a cup of coffee. Subsequently, Wrigley said it would “pause” production of the product.