Experts Warn Caffeine Can Be Detrimental To Children
JACKSON, Tenn- The launch of a new gum may cause the FDA to crack down on some of your favorite caffeinated products that are accessible to children. The FDA said it will be looking at the effects caffeine may have on children and adolescents, after Wrigley launched a new Alert Energy Caffeine Gum, available at most convenience stores. One piece of the gum contains 40 milligrams of caffeine, about as much as a half-cup of coffee. Doctors said caffeine can cause children to lose sleep, stunting their growth. “If kids take it they don’t get enough sleep and as a result, they don’t grow,” said Dr. Tarebiye Pela, of Jackson Pediatric Center. According to Dr. Pela, other side effects can include headaches, increased blood pressure and heart rate. Some local convenience store workers said while the FDA is deciding what action, if any, should be taken, they’ll try to keep the new product out of the wrong hands. “We don’t want children buying it,” said Susan Adams, a manager at Old Medina Market in northeast Jackson. “So I keep it by the counter, where they can’t pick it up.” Wrigley said it markets the gum as an energy product to adults who are 25 and older.
