Food Standards Australia New Zealand Board has approved the Proposal P1056, signalling a shift in how caffeine is regulated and communicated to consumers. With growing consumption of caffeine in a wider range of products, from traditional beverages to functional foods, this proposal reflects an increased scrutiny on the safety and transparency of manufacturing and production.
P1056 is focused on strengthening caffeine labelling requirements. This includes clearer declarations of caffeine content and updates to advisory statements, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, and those sensitive to caffeine. The proposal recognises that caffeine is no longer limited to coffee and energy drinks, but is now present in an expanding category of products in a growing retail range.
For the industry, the proposal includes key changes, including when caffeine can be added to foods and limiting high concentrations of guarana extract. New labelling will apply to packaged beverages with high caffeine levels, including caffeine content per serve and advisory statements. Caffeine will be permitted in formulated supplementary sports foods within defined limits, and will prohibit the retail sale of caffeine as a food. Changes remain unchanged for cola products and energy drinks that presently require advisory statements.
The implications across product formulation, packaging, and compliance processes are in response to the increasingly high concentration and excessive caffeine intake in the population, to define safety boundaries and consumer choice. From the 1st of April, food ministers now have 60 days to consider the decision before the proposal is gazetted into the code. Food businesses will have 2 years from the date of gazettal to implement the changes.
Brands should start reviewing their products to identify products containing added caffeine and assess whether current labelling aligns with potential future requirements. Early engagement will be key to minimising reformulation or relabelling risks down the line.
