Day 28: Following the News
Thursday, May 23, 2013
6:30 am
Following breaking news in the fast-changing world of caffeine and caffeine regulation.
Video Summary:
Low grade headache and cravings, but otherwise feeling pretty stable.
Following the breaking news in the fast-changing world of caffeine and caffeine regulation.
Interesting news coming out almost every day. Set up news feed on my computer.
“Coffee Addiction: Do People Consume too much Caffeine?” News story from BBC came out just a few hours ago.
Is our tea and coffee fueled society too dependent on the world’s favorite drug?
Thought of going without morning coffee is horrifying for most people.
In the U.S. more than 90% of adults are estimated to use caffeine every day.
U.S. is the home of Coca-Cola, Starbucks, 5 hour energy shots.
“Unfortunate example” of Wrigley chewing gum with each stick of gum containing as much caffeine as a half a cup of coffee.
FDA is looking into energy drinks.
Number of people who went to ER after ingesting energy drinks doubled from 10,000 in 2010, to 20,000 in 2011.
There are documented cases of fatal overdoses caused by caffeine toxicity.
However, there is no scientific consensus.
FDA has pledged to determine what is a safe level of caffeine use. Most people don’t know how much they are consuming. Parents are unaware of what their kids are drinking.
120,000 tons of caffeine are consumed worldwide per annum.
Even caffeine-loving Finns are concerned.
Caffeine and creativity discussed.
Attempts to curb caffeine have historically proved futile.
In 1911 the U.S. government sued the Coca-Cola company but lost. That may have opened Pandora’s box.
This caffeine story is a very timely issue, that is making news almost every day now.