archive

May 9, 2013 No caffeinated chew for you! The Wrigley Company pulled its Alert Energy caffeinated gum off the market after the product roused concern from the Food and Drug Administration.

Summary

April 30, 2013 Wrigley's new caffeinated gum has raised eyebrows at the FDA, which is worried about the potential health impacts on children and teens.

Summary

April 26, 2013 Historians tell us that caffeine in coffee helped Western civilization "sober up" and get down to business. Now scientific research shows that at low doses, caffeine improves performance on mental tasks, especially in people who are already tired.

Summary

March 13, 2013 Can eating a banana counter the effects of being over-caffeinated? That's a claim that's been circulating around blogs recently. Some baristas swear by it, but we talked to a scientist who explains why it just isn't true.

Summary

March 7, 2013 Feeding on flowers with caffeinated nectars gives bees a memory boost, new research shows. Turns out, other studies have found humans can get a similar boost in short-term memory with caffeine — if they're exhausted.

Transcript

On All Things ConsideredPlaylist

January 22, 2013 A new report says the number of ER visits involving caffeine-laced energy drinks doubled from 2007 to 2011. Many of those visits involved patients who combined the drinks with alcohol and other drugs, intensifying the effects. Manufacturers say there's no proof the drinks are to blame.

Summary

January 9, 2013 A chemical analysis funded by the Defense Department finds that some dietary supplements contain far more caffeine than the amount listed on their labels. Other energy-boosting supplements contain less caffeine than the labels claim.

Summary

December 17, 2012 Are we getting "Jack'd"? A surge in new caffeine-containing foods leads to new questions about just how much caffeine we're getting in our daily lives. Some advocates are calling for labeling, and they raise concerns about children's and teens' consumption.

Transcript

On All Things ConsideredPlaylist

November 19, 2012 Endurance athletes often turn to the same stimulant that gives your morning cup of joe its jolt: caffeine. They're increasingly using caffeinated gels and drinks when they compete. But how much is too much?

Transcript

On Morning EditionPlaylist

May 16, 2012 Journalists seem to love writing about scientific studies on coffee and wine, and we're no exception. The latest is that a big new study finds people who drink two or three cups of coffee a day may cut the risk of dying from certain diseases, but scientists don't really know why.

Transcript

On All Things ConsideredPlaylist

April 2, 2012 Coffee may help new moms stay awake, but it doesn't seem to affect breast-fed babies, Brazilian researchers conclude. Babies don't seem to metabolize caffeine the way older children and adults do.

Summary

March 7, 2012 When the inhalable caffeine product, known as AeroShot, hit college campus stores back in January, it caused a buzz, not all of it euphoric. Now the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned the company that makes it about the labeling and safety of its product.

Summary

February 22, 2012 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has questions about the safety and legality of AeroShot, the inhalable caffeine product released last month. So does the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Summary

December 27, 2011 AeroShot, a breathable form of caffeine, offers coffee and energy drink addicts a new way to get their fix. But some say the product is being marketed like a drug, and could be a health risk for young people.

Summary

September 30, 2011 The president of the University of New Hampshire put the kibosh on a planned ban of energy drinks on campus after concluding those offered contained about the same amount of caffeine as other beverages, including coffee.

Summary