Dupage Policy Journal

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday issued warning letters to five powdered caffeine distributors, requiring them to revise their labels to clarify serving sizes, potency and risks associated with the use of powdered caffeine.

The FDA response comes after urgings from members of the U.S. Senate, including U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), who called for a ban on the sale of powered caffeine.

After a New York Times report detailed the prevalent use of caffeine inhalers to deliver powdered caffeine, Durbin joined U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ed Markey (D-MA) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in sending a letter in July urging the FDA to ban the sale and marketing of powdered caffeine for retail use.

“Pure powdered caffeine is dangerous," Durbin said. "When sold in bulk, it is nearly impossible for consumers to tell the difference between a safe dose of pure powdered caffeine and a lethal one. I am glad to see the FDA heed our call to action by taking concrete steps to help prevent the potentially deadly consequences of this drug.”

In January 2015, Durbin joined Brown, Blumenthal, Schumer, Markey and Gillibrand in urging the FDA to immediately ban the retail sale and marketing of pure caffeine in support of a citizen petition delivered to then-FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg.