F.D.A. Warns Public of Potent Powdered Caffeine

In its pure, original form, caffeine is powerful. A tablespoon of caffeine powder can be lethal. For example, 3.5 ounces of caffeine can be compared to 400 tall cups of Starbucks coffee, 1250 cans of Red Bull or 3000 cans of Coke. Wow.

This headline struck me. As a student-athlete involved in various activities on and off campus, I have time management skills. Even if I plan my day out to a T, I still may have a late night of homework or studying because the phrase, “there’s not enough time in the day,” comes into play. As a student, I turn to coffee to help me out with those late night homework sessions. Last year, two healthy young men died after using too much of the powdered caffeine product. Too much caffeine can lead to rapid or erratic heartbeat, seizures, and evidently..death. The Food and Drug Administration has received petitions to ban the selling of pure caffeine. The F.D.A. has sent warning letters to various companies in regard to the production of caffeine. One company’s founder responded via email stating the company “immediately stopped selling the material.” However, when does it become a problem to ban this product completely and not leave it up to the companies to stop production?

Caffeine is a drug. After a summer of interning at the Iowa Department of Corrections, I can tell you: making something illegal will not stop someone. This is a mere situation of doing what is best for your body. If someone wants to do something, they will do it, whether it is legal or not. Overall, I think this article did well in explaining the significance of the situation the FDA is facing. If I had to write an article like this, it would be difficult to write without being bias and formulating my own opinion (like I shared above).

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/02/health/fda-warns-5-producers-of-powdered-caffeine.html?ribbon-ad-idx=4&rref=health&module=ArrowsNav&contentCollection=Politics&action=keypress®ion=FixedLeft&pgtype=article

1 Comment

  1. fuglsang

    Though most people do not use powdered caffeine, a lot of people drink coffee and sodas, which means this story has impact. Lots of people will be interested.

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