Nearly two-thirds of American youth consumed caffeine on a given day, averaging about 19 milligrams, according to a new federal analysis. The finding suggests kids are getting caffeine from a wider range of everyday foods and drinks than many parents may realize.
The report examined nationally representative dietary data collected from August 2021 through August 2023. The National Center for Health Statistics found that 62.6% of youth ages 2 to 19 consumed caffeine on a given day, including 50% of children ages 2 to 5, 66.2% of children ages 6 to 11 and 65.5% of those ages 12 to 19.
The Atlanta-focused CBS News report highlighted the national findings as energy drinks and other caffeinated products continue to draw attention from parents and health professionals. The CDC data is a one-day snapshot, not proof that every child in the survey consumes caffeine daily, but it does show how common exposure has become.
Caffeine Is Showing Up Beyond Coffee And Energy Drinks
For younger children, sweet bakery products supplied the largest share of caffeine, followed by flavored milk, candy, soda and tea. Among adolescents, soda was the leading source, followed by sweet bakery products, tea, coffee and candy.
The average also climbed sharply with age: 5 milligrams per day for children ages 2 to 5, 12 milligrams for ages 6 to 11 and 30.7 milligrams for teens ages 12 to 19. Most caffeinated products were consumed at home, and grocery stores were the most common place where those products were obtained, according to the CDC analysis.
That means the caffeine check cannot stop at the refrigerator shelf marked “energy drinks.” Chocolate-containing foods, soda, tea, coffee drinks and some flavored products can all contribute to a child’s total intake.
What Pediatric Experts Want Parents To Watch
The Food and Drug Administration says excess caffeine can contribute to symptoms such as increased heart rate, anxiety, jitters, sleep disruption and digestive problems. The agency also notes that medical experts advise against energy drinks for children and teens because of their caffeine and sugar levels.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says avoiding caffeine is the best choice for children, according to guidance from HealthyChildren.org. For Atlanta families, the practical takeaway is fairly unglamorous but useful: check labels, count all sources and remember that a child’s afternoon snack may be contributing more caffeine than expected.
