Kathmandu, October 29
The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control has said that energy drinks produced in Nepal are safe.
In a notice, the department said it is committed to protecting human health and consumer interests. It added that the caffeine content in domestic products is within international safety standards.
According to the department, international bodies such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) consider up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day, from all caffeinated products including tea and coffee, safe for a healthy adult.
At present, 17 industries have government permission to produce and sell energy drinks in Nepal. The department said that, based on its laboratory analysis and the product labels, each can of these domestic drinks contains less than 100 milligrams of caffeine.
Since this is less than 25 percent of the daily safe limit for human consumption, the department said energy drinks produced in Nepal are safe.
Even so, the department has urged consumers to take special care when drinking them. According to the warning on the product labels, children, pregnant and postpartum women, people with diabetes, and those sensitive to caffeine should not consume energy drinks.
Even healthy adults should not drink more than two cans of up to 330 millilitres each in a day, the department advised.
It has also asked people not to consume energy drinks in place of nutritious beverages such as water, juice, milk or buttermilk, and not to mix them with any other drink.
The department has instructed producers and sellers of energy drinks to obtain permission under the prevailing law before advertising. They must also broadcast a warning message along with the safe quantity for consumers.
In addition, the department has asked the media and other stakeholders to report on the subject only based on scientific facts, so that no confusion or fear is created among the public.
It has warned that any producer or seller who acts against the Food Hygiene and Quality Act, 2081 BS will face action under the law.
