Taiwan asks coffee chains to lift lid on caffeine

TAIPEI, Aug 3 (Reuters) Coffee shop chains in Taiwan added caffeine-content advisories to their drink menus this week after health authorities warned about having one cup too many.

Coffee chains are putting red marks next to coffee drinks with more than 200 mg of caffeine, yellow marks beside caffeine levels of 100-200 mg and green marks next to drinks with less than 100 mg.

The government found during more than a month of research that excessive caffeine can cause symptoms such as dizziness and upset stomachs, a Department of Health Bureau of Food Sanitation official said.

The government also learned that excess caffeine could cause anxiety, bad moods and trouble at work, Taiwan media reported.

''There could be some consumers who are afraid of drinking too much caffeine,'' a Department of Health Bureau of Food Sanitation official said on Thursday.

Eleven chains would follow the Consumer Protection Commission's advice, which took effect on Monday, and is touted as the first of its kind in the world, local media reported.

The US chain, Starbucks Coffee, which is among Taiwan's largest chains with 173 stores, began preparing caffeine-alert fliers in mid-June.

Stores now leave fliers next to the condiments and stirring sticks, advising customers that a grande brewed coffee of the day contains 260 mg of caffeine, the highest of any drink sold.

Lighter coffees have as little as 10 mg.

''If customers are afraid of overdoing it, they can drink low-caffeine coffees,'' said Taiwan Starbucks spokeswoman Lin Chia-chen.

REUTERS DKA RN1237