Summary: A new survey of over 49,000 respondents highlights shifts in US caffeine consumption patterns. While fewer people are consuming caffeinated beverages, those who do are consuming higher amounts, with coffee now contributing 70% of total caffeine intake. Energy drink consumption has grown, while soda and tea contributions have declined, with tea drinking dropping by over 50% since 2010-2011. However, remaining tea drinkers have nearly doubled their caffeine intake from tea.
Key Takeaways:
- Coffee Dominates Caffeine Intake: Coffee now accounts for 70% of total caffeine consumption, up 15% from a decade ago.
- Tea and Soda Decline: Tea drinking has dropped by over 50%, and soda’s contribution to caffeine intake has decreased by 27%.
- Higher Individual Intakes: While fewer people consume caffeinated beverages, those who do are consuming higher levels of caffeine overall.
A new study of over 49,000 respondents observed some shifts in caffeinated beverage patterns that impact caffeine intakes in the US population.
The new survey indicates a lower proportion of the US population is consuming caffeinated beverages but at moderately higher levels of intake. The results also show that the mean caffeine intake from caffeinated beverages still remains below 400 milligrams of caffeine per day.
For most adults, the US Food & Drug Administration and other health authorities have cited 400 milligrams per day—that’s about two to three 12-fluid-ounce cups of coffee—as an amount not generally associated with negative health effects.
The higher levels of intake may partially be explained by a greater proportion of coffee consumers and higher intakes of caffeine from coffee and new specialty coffees, according to the new study published in Food & Chemical Toxicology.
Coffee and Energy Drinks Gain Ground
The results were compared to an earlier 2010-2011 survey, but as the design of the two studies varied, part of the differences observed may also be explained by a change in study methods. The new survey also found that energy drinkers now make up around 12% of caffeine consumers.
While coffee remains the most consumed caffeinated drink, some growth in the mix might also be the result of the increase in the number of brands and types of energy drinks available compared to 10 years ago.
Survey results found that there were 970 brands reported across all categories of beverages, compared to 559 listed brands about 10 years ago. Types of beverages, brands, and amount consumed make it possible to assess caffeine exposure. Categories for assigning caffeine values included coffee and tea—caffeinated and decaffeinated—carbonated soft drinks, energy drinks, chocolate drinks, and fruit drinks.
Shifting Contributions to Caffeine Intake
Of caffeine consumed, coffee contributed the most (70%), followed by carbonated soft drinks (15%), and tea (9%). Energy drinks contributed 6% to the total caffeine consumed.
Relative to the prior 2010-2011 beverage survey the new study indicated shifts including a 15% greater contribution of coffee to total caffeine intake. This was accompanied by a 27% decrease in the contribution of carbonated soft drinks to caffeine intake.
Tea Trends and Caffeine Consumption
In addition, tea drinking appears to be on the downswing. There was an over 50% decrease in the proportion of all caffeinated beverage consumers who consumed tea between the most current survey and the 2010-2011 study.
Despite this decline in tea drinkers, adults in all age categories who drink tea have nearly doubled their caffeine intake from tea. Thus, the tea drinkers that remained significantly increased their tea and caffeine consumption.
The Importance of Monitoring Caffeine Trends
According to the authors, “With a constantly evolving market of caffeinated beverages and the potential impact it has on beverage consumption patterns, continued monitoring of caffeine intakes is warranted.”
Author Diane Mitchell, MS, RD, of the Institute for Advancing Health through Agriculture, Texas A&M AgriLife, says in a release, “We are all aware that the caffeinated beverage market has changed dramatically over the past 10 years, yet no comparable, comprehensive caffeine intake data have been published in recent years.”
The authors conclude that these data are needed and widely used by industry and regulatory agencies and to inform public health guidance. This study looking at US caffeinated beverage consumers underlines the fact that no other comparable, comprehensive caffeine intake research has been published for the US in recent years, according to the authors.
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