Why Are Caffeine Amounts Kept Secret?
A pet-hate of the energy fiendsters is the failure to disclose caffeine amounts. For some reason there are certain manufacturers out there who believe that they are maintaining a business advantage by hiding caffeine levels.
This week I received a response the maker of a caffeinated product. My original inquiry was forwarded through a number of people - which allowed me to see the policy for caffeine disclosure.
Here it is:
My question: I’m excited to see your new [product]. Could you please tell me how much caffeine there is?
Staff were advised to say:
THE CAFFEINE IS EQUAL TO ONE CUP OF BREWED COFFEE PER SERVING. We do not disclose the exact amount.
This could be due to the fact the caffeine levels will vary from item to item.
Let’s stop using the “equal to one cup of coffee” line eh? It’s completely meaningless. Caffeine in coffee is notoriously variable (and even the amounts in the caffeine database are averages).
26 Comments
Pepsi are the stand-out favorites for this. Their website is a mine of excellent nutritional info. Other manufacturers should take note.
also, aren’t they required by law to tell how much is included if asked?
that’s ridiculous that they can’t say a real amount!
yep.it is ridiculous..and I can’t stand that about as much as a cup of coffee..I’ve actually replied to them and said that was extremely vague as coffee can range from 45-w/e that huge starbucks is, and they never respond…grrr
The part I hate most is that they’re always so proud to advertise their ungodly amounts of Taurine, the one ingredient we all don’t care about. Most drinkers barely even know what it does! LAME
in canada, all the energy drinks have to put the amounts of caffeine and all other ‘medical ingredients’.
Monster and all of the other Hansen Products do not tell you how much caffeine is in their drinks…
They all say “ENERGY BLEND 2500mg” or something like that.
That’s why we come to websites like THIS!!!!
It’s even worse when they don’t even bother responding to your emails…I have that from SEVERAL companies
I know about the coffee/caffeine level variables. Starbucks has a new Nutritional Chart with caffeine levels on it. It’s good cross-reference in general.
Karlie, where is this starbucks nutritional chart with caffeine listed?
Have you checked out Bevolution AMMO? They are proud of their caffeine content based on science for performance. A favorite feature on this one ounce fruit flavored energized drink concentrate/energy shot is the measuring scale on the side of the bottle that allows the drinker to determine how much of an energy shot (caffeine) they want. Pure simple stuff that really works…I prefer it to Energy Drinks because I can control it.
Chrissy really bevolution AMMo SOUNDS PERFECT!
What a plant. That stuff is pure rubish and a no matter how much you shill for the company noone is going to buy it. Now take your little marketing and go back to the f@$#ing playground you market WHORE!
Sounds like a plug to me. Did they pay you to say that Chrissy?
Ouch…hey you guys we all caffeine lovers here. I have asked myself the same questions about products as the comments above. I am a weekend extreme athlete (non-professional, non-sponsored) and use caffeine to improve my performance. I am not interested in a lot of extra stimulants…caffeine is my drug of choice because it works for me. Use what you want…I was just sharing something positive I’ve found that fit with the topic.
Nate,
Sorry for the quick response (ha?) The new 2007 Nutritional Pamphlet the stores have near the sugar/milk stands. It’s got to be copyright 2007 and it’s the last column of the listings in the chart. It’s basic and it lists for each sizes. Tall, Grande and Venti.
I am from Canada and unsure if the American one has the list on it.
Welcome and Enjoy
Excuse me, Chrissie, but we are NOT all “caffeine lovers here”. I’m ALLERGIC to caffeine, if I get more than 30 mgs or so at any one time I am liable to end up in the ER. This website is extremely valuable for me because, as has been discussed, some companies like to hide how much caffeine is in their products. “equal to a cup of coffee” - that’s ridiculous. I’m currently trying to find out how much caffeine is in Swiss Miss Diet Hot Cocoa - it doesn’t say on their website, it doesn’t say on the packaging..and it’s incredibly annoying. I guess I’ll have to write to them and ask.
Not everyone is looking for caffeine content because they want the product with the largest amount in it. Some of us are trying to protect our health.
Monster Zero Carb advertises the caffeine amount on the can 120mg per serving. 2 servings per can. Niice!
Who the Hell can actually say they are allergic to Caffeine? This is oddly perplexing.
Chrissy
Playing World of Warcarft eating a family size bag of doriotos is not considered an “extreme athlete” you fat pig.
Your product sucks noone wants it and noone likes you. Now stay off this site.
Okay… if you are sitting playing a vid game for all your waking moments eating Dorito’s, yea I’ll agree with the fat pig comment.
“Extreme Athlete”= Tony Hawk, Matt Hoffmann Guys (not many gals I know sorry) that are off their asses and being active.
What site are you talking about? I don’t want to hear of a gaming site here (sorry). And again, sitting in front of a computer all day with your box of Ho’s Ho’s is going to get you fat and lazy.
I found this looking for caffein content in Swiss Miss hotchocolate:
This is just a portion of the article, if you want to read the whole thing, go to http://www.dailycardinal.com/news/2004/…-597764.shtml
you will have to register, but it’s free. Anyway, here’s the article:
By Jason Brehm
Published in the Daily Cardinal
Published: Thursday, February 5, 2004
["...The Center for Science in the Public Interest says eight ounces of hotchocolate contains five milligrams of caffeine compared to 135 milligrams inregular coffee. In fact, hot chocolate contains the same amount of caffeineas decaffeinated coffee."...]
I used to work at a starbucks and when a barista once accidentally handed a regular (and by regular, I mean multiple starbucks pit stops per day)”decaf venti mild” customer what was in fact NOT a decaf. The poor lady wound up in the ER almost dead from the obscene amount of caffeine in her drink (venti bolds can push 600 miligrams, more in mild brews…).
I guess you really can be “allergic” to caffeine,
but, and I have tested this, drinking four such massive drinks will only make the vast majority of us caffeine lover just a teeeny bit jittery.
does anyone know, for the average person ( as in a cup of coffee in the morning and maybe something like a coke or pepsi later ) what the caffeine limit is?
This question is all over the web… I finally found one answer so I’ll throw it up here:
http://www.verybestcoffee.com/Faqs/TastersChoicefaqs.aspx
The FAQ says:
“…
14. How much caffeine is there in NESCAFÉ TASTER’S CHOICE?
Original/Regular approximately 65 mg
Gourmet Roast approximately 65 mg
Flavored approximately 25-30 mg
Decaffeinated 2-5 mg
Caffeine content based on typical range of coffee powder used in 6 oz cup.
15. How does this amount compare to other products that contain caffeine?
Coffee – Brewed (6 fl oz) 45 - 180 mg
Tea – Brewed (6 fl oz) 20 - 90 mg
Tea – Instant (6 fl oz) 24 - 31 mg
Soft Drink (8 fl oz cola type) 30 - 71 mg
Chocolate Milk (8 fl oz) 2 - 7 mg
Caffeine content based on information from the U.S. FDA and National Coffee Association
…”
I found a good website today that posts not only the caffiene content in several brands of coffee and tea, but also gives a rundown of what other things are in it, and what is good and bad for you. For those of you wanting to know the recommended daily limit, it’s 2 cups of coffee = @ 180-200 mgs / day. I found this on Dr. Lam’s website. He’s into natural healing. - Ceddric
I heard that 8 hour energy had 80 mg of caffeine in 2 fl. oz.
Pepsi products have shown the caffeine amounts under the nutritional info lately. But haven’t seen it on energy drinks.