Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing restrictions on the sale of high caffeine (a) drinks and (b) foods to under-16-year-olds.

There are no plans to make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing restrictions on the sale of high caffeine foods to children under 16 years old. We have consulted on a proposal to end the sale of energy drinks, which are high in caffeine, to children in England and we will be setting out our full response to the consultation in due course.

Manufacturers currently must label foods to which caffeine is added for a physiological purpose: “Contains caffeine. Not recommended for children or pregnant women” and all drinks (except tea and coffee) containing over 150mg of caffeine per litre as “High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women”.