Brits could be reaching their caffeine limit with just one coffee a day
From the morning flat white to the mid-afternoon pick-me-up, caffeine plays a starring role in many Brits' daily routines. However, despite its popularity, most people are totally clueless when it comes to their intake.
According to new research by Northerner, nearly two-thirds of Brits (62%) admit they don’t know how much caffeine is in their daily coffee. Even more shockingly, only 28% say they know exactly how much caffeine they drink each day, highlighting a nationwide caffeine knowledge gap.
Here, Markus Lindblad, Head of Legal and External Affairs from Northerner, reveals how much caffeine you could be consuming and warns about the hidden highs lurking on the high-street.
Our research shows there is very little awareness amongst UK consumers about how much caffeine they are consuming or how much might be too much. Whilst our research showed that around 41% of younger Brits (25-34) say they know how much caffeine they consume, this drops to 12% for those aged 65+. According to the European Food Safety Authority, up to 400mg of caffeine consumed throughout the day does not raise safety concerns for healthy adults.* That’s equivalent to about four cups of instant coffee or five cups of tea.
The hidden caffeine
When it comes to tracking your intake of caffeine, you should be mindful that products such as paracetamol, fizzy drinks and even decaffeinated drinks can sometimes include caffeine, something over 40% of Brits were unaware of! Whilst it’s usually only small amounts, it can all add up throughout the day, quickly pushing people over their recommended daily limit.
Be aware when on the high street
Whilst five cups of tea or four cups of instant coffee might seem a lot during a day, these ‘homemade’ drinks typically contain much lower levels of caffeine than drinks purchased in cafes and coffee shops. For example, a large cappuccino from a high-street chain can contain the recommended daily limit of 400mg caffeine in just one drink.
How can you find out how much caffeine you’re consuming?
Fizzy drinks, tea bags, instant coffee, and other store-bought products will always have the amount of caffeine in the product written under the nutrition label. However, for high-street coffee shops you might need to ask a member of the team or visit the company's website and search for the nutritional information guides. Another alternative is caffeine pouches, which are clearly labelled and have precise caffeine levels so users can track and manage exactly how much caffeine they are consuming.