NEW advice on caffeine in supplements has been issued following the death of a father from Colwyn Bay after miscalculating the amount he was meant to use.

Thomas Mansfield died aged 29 in January 2021 with 392 milligrams of caffeine per litre of blood in his system – the equivalent of drinking between 98 and 196 typical cups of coffee.

An inquest into his death in March 2022, which recorded a conclusion of misadventure, was told he had bought the powder online, and it had the legally required warnings.

The Food Standards (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) have now issued fresh guidance on caffeine in supplements, to promote the safe consumption and manufacturing of food supplements containing high caffeine levels.

The FSA and FSS have also advised consumers to be mindful of caffeine intake when using food supplements, saying that supplements with caffeine should be calculated alongside other sources of caffeine, such as coffee, tea and energy drinks.

Caffeine intakes of up to 400mg per day are unlikely to cause adverse effects in adults, but a limit of 200mg per day is recommended for those who are pregnant.

A survey has also been conducted, which showed that less than half of people who took part look for dosage instructions on supplements - 20 per cent said they don’t read the label.

Research into consumer attitudes towards supplements also revealed that many consumers have limited or no knowledge of caffeine in food supplements.

Mr Mansfield, a personal trainer who also worked as a security guard, had bought the caffeine powder online, which contained the legally required written warnings.

Professor Robin May, chief scientific advisor at the FSA, said: “While caffeine is found naturally in many food products, we have evidence that people are unaware of the higher levels of caffeine in some supplements and the risk this can pose.

“Pure and highly concentrated caffeine supplements such as caffeine powder can be extremely potent, so you should always follow the dose instructions on the label and use appropriate measuring equipment to make sure it’s accurate.

“If people are experiencing caffeine side effects, such as sleeplessness and agitation, they should consider the amount of caffeine they are getting from supplements in addition to other components of their diet.

“We are also recommending that pregnant women limit their daily caffeine consumption to 200mg (the equivalent of roughly two mugs of instant coffee or one mug of filter coffee) and check the label for a warning that the product may be unsuitable.  

“We are also reminding businesses of their responsibility to supply safe food and comply with food labelling and compositional requirements, so that consumers will have information to help them make informed choices about what they’re eating.”

Further advice to consumers and businesses is available on the FSA’s website.

Mr Mansfield, whose cause of death was recorded as caffeine toxicity, was described by his family as an “amazing young man and an absolute inspiration to us all”.