Facts on caffeine

Caffeine is found in coffee beans, tea leaves and cocoa beans. People around the world have enjoyed caffeine as part of their diets for more than 100 years. The Coca-Cola Company in Australia offers both caffeine-free and caffeinated drinks.

One of the most studied ingredients

Caffeine is a comprehensively studied ingredients in the food supply, with centuries of safe use. Regulatory agencies throughout the world including Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) consider the appropriate use of caffeine in food to be acceptable.

Pregnant or nursing women, or women trying to become pregnant, should consult a doctor regarding caffeine consumption.

Caffeine in the diet

The most commonly known sources of caffeine are coffee, cocoa beans, and tea leaves. Caffeine levels in popular products are as follows:

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Caffeine (mg)

Pack Size(mL)	Coca Cola	Diet Coke	Coke Zero	Instant Coffee without Milk	Instant Coffee with Milk	Tea*
100	9.7	12.8	9.6	31.0	28.0	19.0
175	17.0	22.4	16.8	54.3	49.0	33.3
200	19.4	25.6	19.2	62.0	56.0	38.0
250	24.3	32.0	24.0	77.5	70.0	47.5
300	29.1	38.4	28.8	93.0	84.0	57.0
330	32.0	42.2	31.7	102.3	92.4	62.7
375	36.4	48.0	36.0	116.3	105.0	71.3
385	37.3	49.3	37.0	119.4	107.8	73.2
390	37.8	49.9	37.4	120.9	109.2	74.1
440	42.7	56.3	42.2	136.4	123.2	83.6
450	43.7	57.6	43.2	139.5	126.0	85.5
600	58.2	76.8	57.6	186.0	168.0	114.0

*brewed from leaf or tea bag
Source for instant coffee and tea information: AUSNUT 2007, FSANZ

Caffeine in sparkling drinks

Caffeine is an integral part of the complex flavour and overall profile of some sparkling drinks, which people enjoy for refreshment, taste and hydration. For over 100 years, in some cases, the formulas for these drinks have carefully balanced a mix of ingredients, including sweeteners, carbonation, caffeine, and other flavourings to produce the refreshing and tangy taste that consumers prefer, especially when served cold or with ice. The bitter taste of caffeine is part of the complex flavour profile of these drinks.

The amount of caffeine in most Cola soft drinks is relatively small - about 9 milligrams of caffeine per 100ml serving or 22.5mg per 250mL cup, less than one-third of caffeine of a cup of instant coffee (which is 77.5mg per 250mL cup). However, because some people prefer drinks without caffeine, many sparkling drinks are also available in caffeine-free versions.

Is caffeine dehydrating?

Recent scientific consensus concludes caffeinated beverages contribute to the body's hydration needs similarly to non-caffeinated beverages. The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine in its February 2004 report on Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride and Sulfate state, "... caffeinated beverages appear to contribute to the daily total water intake similar to that contributed by non-caffeinated beverages."

In a study examining the effect of caffeinated and non-caffeinated beverages on hydration status, no significant differences were found in the effect of various combinations on hydration status (Grandjean, A et. al. The Effect of Caffeinated , Non-Caffeniated, Caloric and Non-Caloric beverages on Hydration, J. Am. College of Nutrition, 2000. 19, 591-600).

In addition a recent review on hydration concluded that moderate ingestion of caffeine (<300mg) does not promote dehydration (Ganio MS, et. al. Evidence-Based Approach to Lingering Hydration Questions, Clin. Sports. Med. 2007, 26, 1-16.