Regulations
Regulation of Energy Drinks in Canada
Health Canada defines energy drinks as prepackaged beverages or mixes that contain added caffeine, usually along with other ingredients such as taurine, B vitamins, minerals, or herbal ingredients. Caffeinated energy drinks can also contain guarana and yerba mate, which are natural sources of caffeine.
Energy drinks are regulated by Health Canada as a supplemented food. This means they have added ingredients that can pose a risk to your health if you consume too much or are pregnant, a child or are sensitive to caffeine.
Health Canada restricts the amount of caffeine from all sources to a maximum of 180 mg per serving of a caffeinated energy drink. This means that the typical energy drink, 250 – 500 mL could contain between 80 – 180 mg of caffeine. All energy drinks sold in Canada must fall within these parameters.
Other supplemental ingredients (like taurine, B vitamins and minerals) also have limits.
For more details on Supplemented Foods, please refer to the List of permitted supplemental ingredients.
