CNN reports that as recently as last year, “two otherwise healthy young men” died after overdosing on the chemical. The five companies warned by the FDA were: Smartpowders, Purebulk, National Food Supplements, Hard Eight Nutrition and Bridge City Bulk. RELATED:Schumer asks FDA to stop sale ofpowderedalcoholbefore it begins Matt Lee is a Web producer for Metro New York. He writes about almost everything and anything. Talk to him (or yell at him) on Twitter so he doesn’t feel lonely@mattlee2669.
Powdered caffeine can be lethal, FDA warns
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The Food and Drug Administration sent warnings to five distributors of powdered caffeine that their product is dangerous and has the potential to be fatal.
“One teaspoon of pure powdered caffeine is equivalent to the amount of caffeine in about 28 cups of regular coffee,” the FDA wrote on its website. “While consumers of caffeinated products such as coffee, tea, and soda may be aware of caffeine’s less serious effects – such as nervousness and tremors – they may not be aware that these pure powdered caffeine products are much more potent and can cause serious health effects, including rapid or dangerously erratic heartbeat, seizures and death. Vomiting, diarrhea, stupor and disorientation are also symptoms of caffeine toxicity.”
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The FDA has the power to remove a product from the market and these letters are the first steps in that process. In order for the agency to remove a product it must prove that is either unsafe or being marketed in a misleading way.
The companies who received the letter have about two weeks “to communicate to the agency the specific steps they will take to bring their products into compliance with the law,” The FDA explains.
