Students' Caffeine Intake Exceeds Daily Limits, Food Safety Agency Issues Consumption Warning

For adolescents weighing 60kg, less than 150mg per day is recommended. 150mg per cup of Americano... Be careful with energy drinks and chocolate

Ahead of the 2027 College Scholastic Ability Test, test takers are being asked to be careful about their caffeine intake. This is because just one cup of Americano sold at a coffee shop can reach the recommended maximum daily caffeine intake for teenagers.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety provided guidance on precautions for consuming caffeine-containing foods so that test takers ahead of the CSAT on the 20th can maintain a healthy condition.

The maximum daily caffeine intake for children and adolescents recommended by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is 2.5 mg per kg of body weight. The recommended standard is 125 mg for adolescents weighing 50 kg, 150 mg for 60 kg, and 175 mg for 70 kg. Adults are recommended to consume less than 400 mg per day, and pregnant women are advised to consume less than 300 mg per day.

A cup of Americano 150mg... 100mg of energy jelly

According to the caffeine content of each food presented by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, one cup (355 ml) of Americano from a coffee shop contains about 150 mg of caffeine. If an adolescent weighing 50 kg drinks one drink, he or she exceeds the recommended daily amount by 25 mg, and an adolescent weighing 60 kg reaches the recommended amount with one drink.

The caffeine content of a regular coffee drink (250 ml) is about 103 mg, and an energy drink (250 ml) is 80 mg. Energy jelly (20g), which is consumed to relieve drowsiness, also contains about 100mg of caffeine.

Caffeine is found in a variety of foods other than coffee. Coffee-flavored milk (200 ml) contains 47 mg, cola (250 ml) contains 25 mg, one green tea tea bag contains 22 mg, and chocolate (30 g) contains 16 mg.

If a test taker weighing 60 kg drinks one coffee drink and one coffee-flavored milk, the caffeine intake amounts to 150 mg. If you consume additional chocolate or cola, you may exceed the daily recommended amount.

These figures are reference contents presented by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and the actual caffeine content varies depending on the product.

If you experience palpitations or sleep disturbances, reduce your intake.

Sensitivity to caffeine varies from person to person. Even if you do not exceed the recommended daily amount, you should reduce or stop taking it if you experience palpitations, headaches, anxiety, or sleep problems.

In particular, when purchasing foods containing high caffeine, it is necessary to check the phrase 'contains high caffeine' and the total caffeine content displayed on the product packaging. If you eat several foods together, you should add up the caffeine content of each.

To prevent excessive caffeine intake in children and adolescents, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety prohibits the sale of high-caffeine-containing foods in schools nationwide and in stores that sell children's favorite foods near schools.

Approximately 78,000 facilities for youth use, such as convenience stores, libraries, study cafes, and academies, also provide warnings about caffeine consumption.

Oh Yoo-kyung, Minister of Food and Drug Safety, said, "Studying is important, but the most important thing is the health of young people," and urged students to maintain a healthy condition until the day of the test by controlling their caffeine intake and getting adequate rest.