Companies selling bulk powdered caffeine are distributing potentially deadly doses without clear guidance on how much is safe, the Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday. It warned five distributors that they were selling killer doses of the stimulant. It’s already killed two teenagers, the FDA said. Powdered caffeine is sold for people to make their own energy drinks, but it’s very easy to overdose, the FDA said: One teaspoon delivers as much caffeine as 28 cups of regular coffee. “The difference between a safe amount and a toxic dose of caffeine in these pure powdered products is very small," the FDA said in a statement. "Furthermore, safe quantities of these products can be nearly impossible to measure accurately with common kitchen measuring tools." While consumers of coffee, tea and soda may be aware of the less serious side effects, like nervousness and tremors, they may not be aware of the potency of powdered caffeine and its potential dangers — including dangerously erratic heartbeat, seizures and death, the FDA said. Vomiting, diarrhea, stupor and disorientation are other symptoms of caffeine toxicity, it warned. The FDA issued a warning last year when an Ohio teenager died after using powdered caffeine. Now it’s issued warning letters to the five companies. “It is unclear why your product label provides the information that one-quarter teaspoon of your product is 574 milligrams, since this amount is well in excess of the serving size that your label recommends,” the agency says in one of the warning letters, issued to Michael McCandless of North Carolina-based Smartpowders. “Although your product’s serving size is listed as 200 milligrams, it is possible that a consumer would understand your label as a whole as suggesting a serving size of one-quarter teaspoon.”
