Caffeine limits for health drinks are expected to be removed 53 years after they were first instituted. (Image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 12 (Korea Bizwire) – Caffeine limits for health drinks are expected to be removed 53 years after they were first instituted.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety revealed on December 11 that the rule restricting the amount of caffeine to 30mg per health drink will be revised, and that the modified stipulation may appear on the government’s official gazette before the end of this week.
The caffeine rule has been untouched since its inception in 1964.
The public health agency’s ’30mg or less’ mandate to pharmaceuticals manufacturers based on recommended daily allowances (RDA) of 400mg a day had been dogged by criticism for being inconsistent when compared to other caffeine-containing products.
For instance, higher amounts of caffeine are found in coffee than in health drinks like Bacchus and Wonbi-D.
Per market research conducted by the Korea Consumer Agency, certain energy drinks currently available on the market contain up to 162mg of caffeine, over five times the amount permissible for health drinks.
Once the government’s caffeine rule revision becomes official, the forecast for the health drink industry is greater experimentation with products and caffeine concentration.
Meanwhile, some concerns have been raised that the government’s actions could lead to undesirable consequences, such as excessive caffeine intake.
A Ministry of Safety and Inspection spokesperson attempted to alleviate concerns, saying, “It does not appear to be the case that the contained amount of caffeine in health drinks will spike drastically after the rule is revised.”
The spokesperson added, “Each product has to be approved after a safety and efficacy inspection, so throughout the examination process the ministry intends to regulate the industry to ensure the RDA of 400mg is not exceeded.”
For instance, higher amounts of caffeine are found in coffee than in health drinks like Bacchus and Wonbi-D. (Image: Wonbi-D Twitter)
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
