Gyeongbuk Province Conducts Survey on Caffeine Content in Small Coffee Shops

Accurate Information Provision, Guaranteeing Consumers' Right to Know and Choice

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Koo Dae-seon] Gyeongbuk Province is launching an investigation into the caffeine content in coffee served at small coffee specialty shops.

This measure aims to guarantee consumers' right to know and their freedom to choose products by providing accurate information about caffeine content.

On the 13th, the Gyeongsangbuk-do Institute of Health and Environment announced that it will conduct a survey on the caffeine content of coffee sold at small coffee specialty shops from February to October.

The institute plans to compare and analyze the caffeine content of about 150 samples of Americano and decaffeinated Americano sold at small coffee specialty shops in eight cities and counties within the province, including Pohang and Andong.

Caffeine is a type of alkaloid found in the fruits, leaves, and seeds of certain plants such as coffee and tea. It acts on the central nervous system to stimulate alertness and reduce fatigue, providing positive effects. However, it can also cause side effects such as insomnia, nervousness, and increased heart rate, so caution is necessary.

Decaffeinated coffee is coffee from which only the caffeine component has been removed. In South Korea, coffee products with caffeine content reduced by more than 90% are regulated to be labeled as decaffeinated products.

To prevent side effects from high caffeine intake, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has established "Food Labeling Standards," which require liquid foods (coffee and tea) containing 0.15 mg or more of caffeine per 1 milliliter to provide information on total caffeine content, cautionary statements, and high caffeine content to ensure consumer safety, nutrition, and health.

However, this regulation is limited to franchise-type food service establishments with more than 100 stores, so the caffeine content in small coffee specialty shops has not been accurately identified.

Lee Chang-il, head of the Food and Drug Research Department, said, "As the frequency of visits to small coffee specialty shops is increasing, we will do our best to provide accurate caffeine content information through this survey to guarantee consumers' right to know and their freedom to choose."

Gyeongbuk Provincial Government Office.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.