Food Standards Agency publishes new caffeine advice for pregnant women
PRESS RELEASE
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has today issued new advice to pregnant women on daily caffeine consumption. This follows research carried out on behalf of the Agency by the Universities of Leeds and Leicester.
Pregnant women are being advised to limit their daily caffeine intake, ideally keeping this below 200mg a day. This is roughly two mugs of coffee a day, although caffeine is also present in tea, chocolate, some soft drinks, and certain medicines.
Too much caffeine might result in a baby having a lower birth weight than it should, which can increase the risk of some health conditions for the baby in later life, or could possibly result in spontaneous miscarriage.
The Agency had previously set a maximum daily intake of 300mg. However, the new research suggests, that although the risk is low, a limit of 200mg per day will help to minimise the risk further. The research showed that the average daily caffeine intake during pregnancy was already below 200mg, so for many pregnant women this change in advice will not affect them.
Andrew Wadge, FSA Chief Scientist, said: ‘This new advice doesn’t mean that pregnant women have to cut out caffeine completely, simply that they should be careful and make sure they don’t have too much. We would emphasise that the risks are likely to be very small and believe our new advice, which is based on new research and has been considered by leading independent scientists, is sensible and proportionate.’
The Agency says that for pregnant women who have been following the previous advice and limiting consumption to below 300mg a day should not be concerned, as the risk is likely to be very low. They are advised not to worry and to simply reduce their caffeine consumption to less than 200mg a day for the remainder of their pregnancy. If there are still concerns they should seek further advice from their midwife or GP.
The new research carried out by the Universities of Leeds and Leicester suggested that caffeine intake during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of foetal growth restriction. These findings and the results of other studies were considered by independent experts of the FSA’s Committee on Toxicity who advised a change in the FSA’s advice on daily caffeine intake for pregnant women.
Professor Justin Konje, Chair of the Project Steering Group from the University of Leicester, said: ‘This was a large study involving about 2,500 pregnant women, designed to overcome the limitations of previous research in this area. Tea was the major source of caffeine for most of the women in the study, and it is important for expectant mothers to understand that caffeine is not just in coffee and cola. I am pleased that this work has helped the FSA to refine their advice.’
Professor Janet Cade, from the University of Leeds, said: ‘Everyone wants the best for their baby. Limiting daily caffeine intake is one way which you can ensure your baby has the best start in life.’