Energy drinks containing twice the maximum amount of caffeine have been removed from store shelves in a sweeping crackdown.
Around 700 drinks, including GFUEL and Bang and Rase, have been seized from retailers in South Australia after they were found to contain 300mg of caffeine in just 437ml, exceeding the legal caffeine limit of 320mg per litre.
South African health inspectors have found 18 stores selling highly caffeinated drinks, with two companies fined $3,000 while 13 stores were issued warning letters.
Acting Chief Public Health Officer Chris Leese said the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has also issued eight detention orders on energy drink brands, according to The Advertiser.
“What the order holders do is identify products that need to be intercepted at the border and they are held at the border to prevent them from entering,” he said.
Mr Lees urged people to check the label for caffeine levels before buying energy drinks, according to the Guardian.
“We are working with retailers to educate them on the regulations and prevent these drinks from hitting the shelves, and issuing penalties to repeat offenders,” he said.
South Africa’s Health Minister Chris Picton said the drinks were “directly targeting” children through images of video game and cartoon characters on the packaging, according to The Advertiser.
“They have now been taken off the streets, especially because of the impact they have on our children,” he said.
Reports suggest that these high levels of caffeine can increase the risk of heart palpitations, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
