New caffeine-added drinks are arriving on our Chatham-Kent store shelves and marketed to all ages, although they may contain unsafe levels of caffeine for kids.    

Caffeine may cause difficulty sleeping, headaches, irritability, anxiety, vomiting, and heart palpitations.  The long term effects of caffeine on child and adolescent brain development are unknown. 

In addition, caffeine-added drinks usually have high levels of sugar and may contribute to poor diet and weight gain.  Childhood and adolescence is a time of growth and development when enough sleep and proper nutrition are essential. 

What can you do? 

Check the ingredient list to see if caffeine has been added to the drink.  Although Health Canada encourages companies to include the amount of caffeine on products, companies are not required to do so.  It’s a good guess though that if caffeine is used in the marketing of the drink, the drink is not for kids.

*1 kg=2.2 lbs   **Serving size not specified.