SA: Bid to allow caffeine in all soft drinks criticised

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-1999
SA: Bid to allow caffeine in all soft drinks criticised

An application by an Australian soft drink maker to be allowed to add caffeine to
all soft drinks has been criticised by a long-term researcher into the drug's effects.

Caffeine can only be added to cola drinks in Australia, but the Australia New Zealand
Food Authority is considering an application to allow it to be put in all types of drinks.

Flinders University clinical pharmacology department head DON BIRKETT says he has a
real objection to adding things to foods to achieve a pharmacological effect like the
stimulation of the central nervous system, especially if they can produce a dependency.

Non-cola soft drinks containing caffeine can already be imported from New Zealand under
the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Treaty.

Meanwhile, Australasian Soft Drink Association chief executive TONY GENTILE (pron Genteely)
says the industry wants a compromise of 145mg/litre of caffeine allowed in all drinks,
to enable its use as a bittering agent.

AAP RTV scl/sn/wz/jn

KEYWORD: CAFFEINE (ADELAIDE)

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