THE Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) has bought into one of the
most vexed questions of modern life鈥攖he health impacts of caffeine. The
question has arisen in the guise of deciding whether it should be legal to
increase the level of caffeine in Australian soft drinks. Australia鈥檚 maximum
allowable limits at present are lower than those across the Tasman, and a New
Zealand manufacturer wants the option to market a higher level product in
Australia.
Caffeine is a naturally occurring stimulant found in more than 60 plant
species. The best known examples are coffee and tea鈥攚hich means that most
adults worldwide ingest caffeine daily. Caffeine has also been added to cola
drinks, since their original 鈥渃oca鈥� base was outlawed for its association with
cocaine. But like cocaine, caffeine develops dependency. Including it in soft
drinks provides a clear market advantage鈥攊t keeps the punters coming back
for more.
And the practice also raises health issues. There have long been concerns
that caffeine might be linked to cancers or cardiovascular disease but, like
radiation and mobile phones, research to establish a link has been
inconclusive.
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Recent overseas studies found no significant increase in health risk for
moderate consumption, defined as up to six cups of coffee a day. As a serious
coffee user, I was relieved. Detailed analysis, however, shows the story is more
complicated. Espresso and plunger coffee contain compounds other than caffeine
that may raise levels of the 鈥渂ad鈥� cholesterol associated with coronary disease,
while drip-filtered or instant coffee have much lower levels of these
substances. So the better taste of espresso could signal higher levels of
hazardous compounds. You pays your money and you takes your choice.
But wait, there鈥檚 more. Researchers have found evidence that pregnant women
who are heavy caffeine users may be more likely to miscarry or have babies of
low birth weight. And strong coffee late at night can cause sleep problems. On
the positive side, the anti-oxidant properties of coffee may reduce the risk of
some types of cancer. Coffee and tea certainly improve alertness and
concentration. And there is evidence from large-scale studies that regular
coffee drinking reduces the risk of kidney stones or gallstones by about 10 per
cent a daily cup.
So where does this leave caffeine and soft drinks? The Public Health
Association of Australia (PHAA) says the proposal to increase the maximum
allowable level for soft drinks would raise the caffeine intake of children and
teenagers by about 45 per cent. High levels of caffeine use in children are
associated with hyperactivity and anxiety, as well as with the capacity to
develop a life-long dependency. So the PHAA opposes the move.
It is a crucial decision. As we have found with tobacco, once the use of a
substance that develops dependency is allowed, withdrawal at a later date
becomes very difficult. The ANZFA expert working group considering the issues
has just released its report. It is available on the Web at www.anzfa.gov.au.
PRESSURE is building on the Australian government to do something about the
falling level of research investment.
Last week, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released figures showing that
private sector spending on R&D fell five per cent in 1998-99, compounding
reductions in the previous two years. Business research has been declining
steadily since the government reduced the 150 per cent tax concession for
R&D in 1996. Australia鈥檚 effort in private research is now well below
average in the developed world. Private sector research spending in the US,
Japan and even South Korea amounts to more than two per cent of GDP, while the
Australian figure has sunk to 0.67 per cent.
The Opposition has given notice that it will campaign at the next election on
a plan for a 鈥渒nowledge nation鈥�, with extra spending on education and research.
The government is still waiting for recommendations from the working group it
set up after the National Innovation Summit
(Antipodes, 19 February).
But time is running out. The Sydney Morning Herald recently attacked
鈥渢he tardiness of the Federal Government in facing up to a serious national
problem鈥� as well as 鈥渢he timidity and short-sightedness鈥� of corporate Australia.
It said it is no wonder that scientists and technicians are moving overseas 鈥渋n
search of job satisfaction, research resources and reward鈥�.