The Senators efforts are bolstered by the support of two sets of parents whose sons died from powder caffeine overdoses.
The FDA states that one teaspoon of pure caffeine is equivalent to the amount of caffeine in about 28 cups of regular coffee.
While the FDA has impeded the marketing campaigns of five companies who distribute the product, it has yet to issue a federal ban. Democratic Senators Dick Durbin (Ill.), Charles Schumer (N.Y.), Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Richard Blumenthal (Conn.) and Ed Markey (Mass.) said the FDA has been disappointing on the issue.
In a letter to the FDA sent Tuesday, the Senators wrote, “It is disturbing that despite two unintended and untimely deaths associated with powdered caffeine, the FDA has done little to regulate these products or adequately enforce the standards in place to protect Americans.”
More articles on population health:
CDC: e-cigarette ads increase vaping among youths
Soda tax is newest Democratic policy disagreement
U.S. suicide rate hits 30-year high: 4 things to know
