Pure and highly concentrated caffeine food products will be banned from today as the Australian Government delivers on its earlier commitment to protect consumers.
The ban applies to foods for retail sale where total caffeine is present in a concentration of five per cent more in solid or semi-solid foods, like powders, and one per cent or more if the food is in liquid form.
The ban does not affect caffeinated products like coffee, energy or cola drinks, and sports foods, which have much lower concentrations.
Minister Richard Colbeck, who has a portfolio responsibility for food regulation, says the ban would be implemented after all five recommendations from a report into the safety of caffeine products were accepted.
Earlier this year, the Morrison Government vowed to tighten regulations following the death of Lachlan Foote, a day before his 22nd birthday.
“I’m pleased with the swift action that has been taken to prevent the risk of more unnecessary deaths from consumption of these dangerous products,” Minister Colbeck says.
“An assessment by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) found that a heaped tablespoon of caffeine powder containing five per cent caffeine would deliver around 825 milligrams of caffeine,” Minister Colbeck says.
“This is a significant dose at which the risk of serious health effects starts to increase and should not be available for retail sale.”
Across the next year, FSANZ will be working to provide clarity under the Food Standards Code on safe levels of caffeine.
An education campaign will also start shortly to help inform Australian consumers about the risks of caffeine powders and purchasing these products online.