Should statements concerning certain ingredients be included on the labels of energy drinks?
All Member States, apart from Denmark and France (where ‘energy drinks’ are not on the market), Italy and Greece view ‘energy drinks’ as normal foodstuffs. In broad terms, Member States were in agreement and came to the following conclusions: • based on current evidence ‘energy drinks’ may be considered as normal foodstuffs and regulated as such • the main issues with “energy drinks” relate to particular ingredients (caffeine, taurine, glucuronolactone) used in concentrations or combinations that are not found in the ‘normal’ diet • currently there is insufficient scientific evidence to enable the setting of upper safe limits for levels of taurine and glucuronolactone in ‘energy drinks’ or to support a ban on the use of these ingredients • given the gaps in our knowledge and following the recent Standing Committee decision to adopt a Directive on the labelling of foodstuffs containing quinine and/or caffeine, there is no basis on which to take further action on labelling at this time T
