Kathmandu, October 28: The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control under the Ministry of Health and Food Hygiene has urged children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with diabetes and other diseases, and individuals sensitive to caffeine to avoid consuming energy drinks.
The department issued the advisory while informing consumers, producers and other stakeholders about the safe consumption of energy drinks. It has also advised people who can consume energy drinks to limit their intake to no more than two cans a day.
According to the department, 17 industries in Nepal are currently producing and distributing energy drinks after obtaining permission from the relevant authorities. Product labels and laboratory analysis reports indicate that each can contains 100 milligrams of caffeine.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) and other organisations have presented scientific evidence indicating that healthy adults can consume caffeine from all food and beverage sources, provided that their total daily intake does not exceed 400 milligrams.
The department stated that the amount of caffeine used in energy drinks produced in Nepal is less than 25 percent of this recommended daily limit.
The department has also urged consumers not to use energy drinks as substitutes for nutritious beverages such as water, juice, milk and buttermilk, or to mix them with other beverages before consumption.
Similarly, producers and sellers have been urged to obtain the necessary permits under prevailing laws before advertising and promoting their products. They have also been asked to clearly communicate the warning messages and safe-consumption information provided on product labels.
Prioritising food hygiene and quality standards, the department has called on stakeholders to disseminate information on food quality based on scientific evidence and international standards. The department stated that businesses violating the Food Hygiene and Quality Act, 2024 (BS), would face legal action in accordance with the law.
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