The cup that makes you twitch

Press, 27 October 1982, Page 15

The cup that makes you twitch

From

CHRISTINE DOYLE

in Washington

On hearing that I- was writing about the caffeine conflict, my 10-year-old son jingled: ■'Seven-Up. Nice and clean. No caffeine. Never had it Never will." Without hesitation, he then listed 15 of the American nation s favourite get-up-and-go soft drinks, and noted accurately which six brands were caffeine-free. Such caffeine awareness is reflected in booming sales for "sodas" which are free from this physical and mental pep-up chemical. Spurred on by controversial evidence about the possible dangers, particularly to unborn babies and young children, thousands of under-30-year-olds who, not long ago were drinking caffeinated colas much as their parents once drank coffee, are increasingly suspicious about the risks and are adjusting their taste buds.

The switch is causing a shake-up among the giant drinks companies, who produce such brands as Pepsi, Coca-Cola, the fruity Mello Yello, and Mountain Dew which do contain caffeine. A 1 per cent shift in market share could mean a loss of as much as $7 million to any one of these giants. The marketing shake-up is being intensified by the imminent prospect of a decision by the Food and Drug Administration on whether to remove caffeine from its

"generally regarded as safe" list of food additives, the

G.R.A.S. list, and put it into an interim category which would place the onus on manufacturers to prove its safety. ■

This recommendation was made to the F.D.A. four years ago by one of its own advisory groups which was deeply concerned about the effects of a high consumption of caffeine on the developing nervous system of young children. One calculation is that, allowing for size, a child gets the same "dose" of. caffeine from a can of cola as an adult gets from a cup .of instant coffee, and, that for some adults one cup is enough to cause insomnia.

Some people become mildly dependent, or "addicted," to coffee on three to five cups a day, and suffer withdrawal symptoms if they stop. For very heavy coffee drinkers — between five to 10 cups a day — the medical term ‘caffeinism" is used to describe possible symptoms. These include nervousness, twitching, tiredness, irritability, and even heart palpitations.

Two preliminary studies from the National Institute of Mental Health showed that while children given high doses of caffeine — the equivalent of six or seven cans — were initially more

alert, they were also very fidgety, irritable, and nervous. speaking faster than usual.

Some consumer agencies concerned about the possible long-term effects are calling for a ban on caffeine as a drinks additive. A spokesman for the Centre for Science in the Public Interest says:"ln the first few years of life and in the womb the brain is still developing and very vulnerable to toxic substances. "We know that' caffeine ‘recognises’ sites in the brain and attaches itself to them. It should be of grave concern that young children may take a substantial amount of a stimulant during their formative vears."

Even before the caffeine alarms, coffee drinking was declining among American adults, partly owing to expense, and also to the general move towards healthier food. One in seven Americans now drink decaffeinated coffee.

By contrast, sales of soft drinks continue to soar. According to one source, an average American consumes 33.6 gallons of soft drinks each year. Ironically, these drinks recycle the caffeine extracted from decaffeinated coffee. Copyright — London Observer Service.