FDA Regulations for Caffeine

Caffeine is widely used, found in drinks such as coffee, tea and sodas, as well as a variety of foods and drugs. How the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) treats a product with caffeine in it depends on whether or not the product is categorized as a food or a drug. The laws surrounding caffeine and the FDA's regulation of caffeine products is complicated.

Caffeine in Food

Caffeine, when categorized as a food, is fit for human consumption and is generally recognized as safe. Under 21 Code of Federal Regulations section 182.1180, the federal government states that caffeine is generally recognized as safe as used in cola or soft-drink products and when it is used in accordance with proper manufacturing processes. Safe substances do not require any FDA approval as long as they fall within the safe levels dictated by the statute.

Safe Levels

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The federal regulations governing the use of caffeine also establish a "tolerance" that applies when manufacturers want to add caffeine to a product. In fact, 21 Code of Federal Regulations section 182.1180(b) states that caffeine's tolerance is .02 percent. This means that any product manufactured with caffeine must have .02 percent or less of the substance in the product to be considered safe. For example, a 12 oz drink can have 68 mg of caffeine and still meet the .02 percent limit.

Caffeine as a Drug

When caffeine is used as a drug, such as in a diet pill or other product, the FDA has a strict approval process through which a manufacturer must proceed before the drug is approved for sale in the United States. The FDA approval process requires the manufacturer to show that the drug is fit for human consumption. When approved as a drug, the manufacturer must include labeling information that reveals exactly how much caffeine is in the product.

Dietary Supplements

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Federal law also allows manufacturers to produce "dietary supplements" that may contain caffeine. The FDA is responsible for overseeing dietary supplements, but manufacturers do not need to get FDA approval for such products. Supplement manufacturers merely have to ensure that their products are not harmful before they can sell them. Because:

• the FDA allows manufacturers to include "botanicals," or plants
  
• in supplements,
  
• many plants naturally contain caffeine
  
• many dietary supplements also contain caffeine even if it is not included on the label
  
• according to Science Daily [2](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090419200847.htm 'inline-reference::Science Daily: Analyzing Caffeine In Selected Dietary Supplements; Apr

24, 2009').