Students preparing for exams across Australia are being advised to carefully manage their caffeine intake, after an energy drink crackdown in one state uncovered products significantly in breach of national food standards.
Health authorities inspected local shops and, in the biggest breach, found 473-millilitre cans containing 300 grams of caffeine — an amount the SA government described as the "equivalent of nine cans of Coca-Cola". The SA government said local health authorities have "issued notices to businesses selling non-compliant" drinks, and have also raised the findings with health departments interstate.
"There is evidence that this has got worse, and it's largely due to the influence of social media, and influencers who are promoting particular products," Professor Jennings said. "You start to see some of the opposite effects of over-arousal, inability to sleep and headaches and anxiety that come with these higher doses," Professor Desbrow said.