The answer to that is it depends on the country. A few examples of laws related to caffeine content for food and drinks include the following:
In the United States there is a limit of 65mg of caffeine per 12 liquid ounce in beverages. This may only be for carbonated beverages. (What we call coke here in the south and my northern friends like to call pop.) There is also a limit of 200mg in pills such as Vivrin. For more info on caffeine contents in drinks check out High Caffeine Pop from 'Energy Drinks' Revealed. Also check Ask Erowid for more specifics.
Here is the FDA regulation text:
[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 21, Volume 3] [Revised as of April 1, 2003] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 21CFR182.1180]
[Page 462]
TITLE 21--FOOD AND DRUGS
CHAPTER I--FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED)
PART 182--SUBSTANCES GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE--Table of Contents
Subpart B--Multiple Purpose GRAS Food Substances
Sec. 182.1180 Caffeine.
(a) Product. Caffeine. (b) Tolerance. 0.02 percent. (c) Limitations, restrictions, or explanation. This substance is generally recognized as safe when used in cola-type beverages in accordance with good manufacturing practice.
This text is available at the GPO web site. Essentially what this means is that for a drink or food to fall within the FDA's guidelines 68 mgs per 12 oz is acceptable. Some drinks do have more. Most if not all energy drinks are legally classified as supplements. Supplements (vitamins and such) have a much lower oversight than food and drugs.
Natural caffeine levels are also exempt from these regulations so coffee based drinks may have more caffeine than the limit without being classified as a supplement.
Australia has a limit of Australia 145mg of caffeine per liter for non-energy drinks which they refer to as "formulated caffeinated beverage" for legal purposes. Formulated caffeinated beverages can contain up to 320 mg/L of caffeine but not less than 145 mg/L of caffeine.
In parts of Northern Thailand it is completely illegal. It was outlawed as a precursor to meth.
Legal limit on Caffeine with THC
In Ontario, the legal limit of caffeine in products containing THC is a maximum of 30 mg of caffeine and 10 mg of THC per dose. Any products containing both these drugs are restricted to this in a single serving (such as a can, or ground coffee).
On a relative basis, 30 mg caffeine is quite mild, while 10 mg of THC may be quite substantial for inexperienced users.
Consumers can take multiple doses, but products can not be legally manufactured or sold in Ontario with doses higher than this.
THC remains outright illegal in most of the world, including at the Federal level in the United States.
Jason Coote says
There are energy drinks with more than 32mg/100 ml. However the only one I have come across is being pulled because of it's high caffiene content. Bodybuilding formulations are better as you used/alter amount as suits you, BUT you have to know what else is in these formulations (usually powder form) and how much is safe to take so as to minimise problems if you are a regular user.
Eddie says
there is a drink that has that much as a *total* in the drink. No way there could be that much on one ounce.
User says
re: Excerpt from Malaysia Food
Excerpt from Malaysia Food Regulation 1985-354 (3) "Flavoured drink may contain caffeine-containing plant extract as permitted flavouring substance in a proportion not exceeding 200mg/litre." It's the same as CODEX and EU limit if I'm not mistaken.
Frizzell says
re: amount of Caffeine permitted
Could someone tell me what is the amount / level of caffeine is allowed/permitted in Malaysia and Singapore, and please give me information that I can rely on for e.g website, publication or etc.
User says
re: respond
If you're in not good state and have no money to move out from that, you would need to receive the mortgage loans. Just because that would aid you emphatically. I take commercial loan every time I need and feel great because of it.
User says
re: Caffeine High a Placebo Effect?
It's not. I once did my math wrong and put enough instant coffee in turkish mocha that I ended up literally high, and the amount I thought I put in I know would do no such thing.
Daniel says
re: RE: The quoted Australian limit is incorrect
Thanks. I updated the article.
Edward K says
re: The quoted Australian limit is incorrect
The quote in the above article "Australia has a limit of Australia 145mg of caffeine per liter" is incorrect.
A limit is applied to formulated caffeinated beverages or FCB's (Red Bull, V energy etc) which is 320mg/litre as shown in the article below:
http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/code/applications/Documents/A394(SOR)_report.pdf
webgrunt says
re: "The human body can only
"The human body can only absorb the caffeine in two cups of regular coffee per 24 hour period."
I'm not sure where you heard that, but it's absolutely false. If that were true, there would be no lethal dose for caffeine, however, there is and it's 10 grams.
User says
re: caffeine limits
In America, the FDA regulates the caffeine content in "sodas and colas" only, not commercial caffeinated beverages such as Starbucks products and energy drinks. A lethal dose of caffeine is 10 grams. There are, actually, energy drinks with over 312 mg/100 ml. Examples are Redline Power Rush, Mana Energy Potion, and Powershot. Many of these are only sold in small portions, however, due to the enormous caffeine content.
Drug rehab says
re: Coffee is not just an energy
Coffee is not just an energy drink, it's also addictive. I couldn't possibly count my caffeine intake because I drink a lot of coffee although my doctor told me to be more careful. I recently read that coffee producers, tobacco producers have risen the addictive substance amount in their products so that they become more addictive. I sure hope this isn't true...
ramen noodles says
re: Pure Coffee is not food or drink anymore
Yeah the last comment is right, if you have some knowledge in chemistry you can do it, or you can look on the net. But i would not advise using it as a drink though, pure coffee is not considered as food and can be quite dangerous if you take a good amount.
User says
re: well, it's right there...
above on this page, it says "This text is available at the GPO web site." that's a link, I'd try it. I see what you're saying, though. It's amazingly annoying trying to find what the actual text of a law is, but this site apparently knows what they're doing.
User says
re: Gum
There's caffeine gum that contains 100mg per piece. used for military mainly but you can buy it here: And, it works!
User says
re: pure caffeine
pure caffeine is legal to buy in the uk i recently purchased 50g of it and ended up in hospital from a caffeine over dose so if you must buy it use it in moderation ppl pleease
User says
re: ***Carbonated drinks....
If you read the original post it says there is a legal limit on carbonated drinks.... That does not include Starbucks Doubleshot and other non-carbonated drinks like most energy drinks
James says
re: Caffeine Limit not so in the U.S
according to SoBe's website, they put 174 mg in 18 oz of "No Fear", so the limit of 65mg per 12 oz is not accurate considering that I purchase them here in California all the time.
User says
re: yes you can, from chemical
yes you can, from chemical dealers, but that may be a bit hard. but, if you have a basic to medium level knowledge of chemistry, you can extract it as a pure white powder from coffee and other plants that contain caffeine
User says
re: wrong
He/she is wrong nothing has that much caffeine per liquid ounce, he/she clearly doesn't know how much a liquid ounce is. Im English and there doesn't seem to ever be an energy drink with more than 32mg/100ml. I'm sure there is more in coffee but no way as much as that stated above, I think he is confusing ounce with litre
Me says
re: There are no energy drinks
There are no energy drinks that have that much caffeine. Here's a good chart to go by:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_drink
User says
re: In norway it is something
In norway it is something like 150mg/liter... therfore many foreign energy drinks are illegal.. take the energy drink battery for an example.. norwegian sold version has about 150mg/liter... while the same drink sold other places have well above 150mg/liter!
so there you have it..
User says
re: 312 mg? seriously? 2 ounces
312 mg? seriously? 2 ounces of that and your blood pressure would be through the roof and your heart beating its way out of your chest
Anonymous says
re: Legal Limit
I would like to see where this law on the legal limit of caffeine is written since there are energy drinks which have over 312 mg per liquid oz.
Daniel says
re: Pure Caffeine
I cannot authoritatively answer this question. I can say that a number of body building oriented sites advertise what they claim is pure caffeine so it may be possible to purchase pure or near pure caffeine I the United states. According to the University of Bristol in the UK chemical supply companies cannot sell pure caffeine to individuals. I would not advise the use of pure caffeine in any but a carefully monitored environment. In pure form a small miscalculations of dose can be a big deal.
Anonymous says
re: caffeine
can a person buy pure caffeine like you can purchase a pound of sugar or salt?
Anonymous says
re: legal limit per ounce?
I can't see how this is correct. In america, drinks like Starbucks Doubleshot have upwards of 21mg of caffeine per liquid oz.