With a view to reducing the present level of harmful caffeine in the carbonated beverages and energy drinks, Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has taken a move.
A BSTI source told the FE, "We have proposed the government to reduce the harmful and addictive caffeine in the drinks that leads to health hazards among the users."
As per data available from the BSTI, it has been leant that the current standards of caffeine level in the soft drinks are set at maximum 200 parts per million (ppm).
The BSTI has proposed to reduce this level to maximum 145ppm, which will cause lesser harm to the human body.
An official at a leading beverage company said, "Our caffeine level is higher than that by global standard and this is causing kidney and other health problems."
He said as per the standards of the USFDA (United States Food and Drug Administration) and the standards of the European and other developed countries, Bangladesh's beverages are highly caffeinated.
The BSTI official said the proposal of reducing caffeine in energy and soft drinks from the existing 200ppm to 145ppm has already witnessed some development at government level, and that after a gazette notification the directives would be sent to all foreign and local manufacturers.
According to a scientist at the BCSIR (Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), although the manufacturers, including the leading ones, claim they have spent a lot of money on research and development, as well as maintenance of quality, after a random sampling there would be more than 200ppm caffeine and other substances in the drinks.
He said due to these 'ingredients' the consumers belonging to the younger generation are becoming addictive to some brands of carbonated beverages.
Another source in the BSTI said if the move to reduce caffeine was finally implemented, it would cut down health risks among the soft and energy drink consumers.
He added the current 200ppm level meant the drinks were highly carbonated and harmful for public health.
According to a data available with the Board of Investment, more money is coming to the beverage industry both from local and foreign investors.
He said side by side with increase in the market share, it was also duty of the government to avert the health risks to the people.
The BSTI move is good and it should implement it as soon as possible for the interest of public health, he added.
A factory source, requesting anonymity, said apart from caffeine, other heavy metals are there in the soft and energy drinks.
He said although the ppm levels are approved by BSTI, they are causing severe health hazards to the people.
A BSTI official said among heavy metals found in soft drinks, arsenic should not cross the maximum level of 0.01 mg per kilogramme (kg), lead 0.01 mg/kg, copper 1.0 mg/kg and iron 1.0 mg/kg.
BSTI proposes reduction in level of caffeine in \\\'soft drinks\\\'
Shamsul Huda | Published: March 02, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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