Public Servant Lifestyle

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) advises pregnant women to limit their caffeine intake to less than the equivalent of four cups of coffee a day. The advice, which for the first time puts a figure on previous Department of Health (DOH) guidance for pregnant women to moderate caffeine consumption, follows a review by independent experts, the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (CoT).

The CoT looked at the effects of caffeine on reproduction and concluded that caffeine intakes above 300 mg/day may be associated with low birth weight and, in some cases, miscarriage.

Deputy Chair of the Agency, Suzi Leather, said: "In practice this doesn't mean cutting out coffee completely but is about taking a sensible precaution and not having more than the equivalent of four cups of coffee a day. Of course it's easy to forget that it's not just coffee that contains caffeine, but tea, soft drinks and chocolate too. Because of this we have tried to set out our advice in a way that is practical and easy to understand."

Caffeine occurs naturally in a range of foods such as coffee, tea and chocolate. It is also added to some soft drinks and so called 'energy' drinks.

According to the FSA, 300mg of caffeine is roughly equivalent to:

4 average cups, or 3 average size mugs, of instant coffee

3 average cups of brewed coffee

6 average cups of tea

8 cans of regular cola drinks

4 cans of so-called 'energy' drinks

400 grams (8 standard 50g bars) of normal chocolate

The individual intakes are:

Average cup of instant coffee - 75mg

Average mug of coffee - 100mg

Average cup of brewed coffee - 100mg

Average cup of tea - 50mg

Regular cola drink - up to 40mg

Regular energy drink - up to 80mg

Normal bar of chocolate - up to 50mg

There are other, less common sources of caffeine, including certain cold and flu remedies. Pregnant women should always seek advice from their doctor or other health professionals on the appropriate diet during pregnancy.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is a central Government agency established to protect the public's health and consumer interests in relation to food safety and standards across the UK. The FSA incorporates the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) - itself an Executive Agency of the FSA since 1995 - which is responsible for the protection of public health relating to meat products, as well as animal health and welfare issues.

More information available in Drink, Healthy Alternatives