What does the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have to say about your favorite morning ritual? Well, your latte (or second latte) is fine by them.
EFSA just released its Scientific Opinion on caffeine safety. In the new opinion, EFSA reconfirmed that caffeine intakes of up to 400 mg per day from all sources don’t raise any safety concerns for the general population. They also confirmed that single doses of up to 200 mg consumed at one time do not raise safety concerns. Researchers consider 400 mg per day to be moderate caffeine intake, and other leading regulatory authorities (such as the FDA and Health Canada) agree that amount is safe for most people.
So what does 400 mg of caffeine look like? It’s about 4 cups (8 oz.) of home-brewed coffee—check out our graphic up top with some of the most common caffeine sources, and for more eclectic caffeine consumers, check out the chart to the right to find out how much caffeine is in your favorite food or beverage:
So if you’re a healthy adult, there’s likely no need to fret over your first (or second, or third) cup of java. Just stay informed, keep track of your total daily intake, and remember that the magic ‘400 mg’ number is a moderate amount.
Check out our next EFSA Spotlight on caffeine and pregnancy.