By Asmau Ahmad
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted the public to stop consuming G Fuel brand Energy Drinks, warning that it contains high levels of caffeine.
The energy drink produced by T & E Imports and GPAE Trading Corp is already under recall in some countries because of its high level of caffeine.
Caffeine is a stimulant and the most commonly used drug in the world.
The notification of this product is contained in a public alert with No. 034/2023, issued to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by NAFDAC’s Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye.
She said the agency was notified about the recall of the product by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Adeyeye She disclosed that the consumption of the product could cause headaches, insomnia, irritability, and nervousness because of the high level of caffeine.
She said that people sensitive to caffeine can experience these effects at very low consumption levels.
The NAFDAC boss cautioned pregnant women not to take these products, adding that the possible health effects of consuming too much caffeine include the risk of miscarriage and a chance of low birth weight.
She noted that the affected products have no cautionary statement to limit the number of servings per day, adding that these products are sold online.
“The product is not registered by NAFDAC, which implored consumers and retailers to refrain from using, selling, serving, or distributing the implicated product.
“Members of the public are encouraged to report any suspicious distribution and sale of unwholesome packaged food products to the nearest NAFDAC office. “Healthcare professionals and patients are also encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of any substandard NAFDAC-regulated product to the nearest NAFDAC office.
“NAFDAC could also be reached through the use of the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website or via the Med-safety application available for download on android and IOS stores.”
In a 2021 article published in the PubMed Central journal, the authors said caffeine intake has an impact not only on adults but also on children.
They affirmed that excess caffeine has negative effects in people with hypertension, children, adolescents, and the elderly,
The authors warned that though millions of people consume caffeine every day to increase wakefulness, alleviate fatigue, and improve concentration and focus, a high consumption of caffeine may be injurious to health.
