I Overdosed on a Deadly Delicacy: The Chilling True Story of a Man’s Fatal Encounter

Autopsy results of a man who died after cardiac arrest from an overdose of caffeine supplements… Caffeine supplement sellers take action to provide measuring spoons and instructions for use

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Thomas Mansfield died after accidentally consuming several times the recommended amount of caffeine supplements. [사진=’데일리메일’ 보도내용 캡처]

British health authorities have recommended paying special attention to caffeine intake after a man died hours after consuming caffeine supplements.

According to reports in the British daily Daily Mail, Thomas Mansfield (29), who lived in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, was a healthy man who ran fitness classes as a personal trainer.

One day in January 2021, he took a caffeine supplement and collapsed minutes later, foaming at the mouth and clutching his chest. In general, caffeine supplements can improve exercise performance, so athletes and fitness enthusiasts enjoy taking them before exercising. Many people take it for diet or weight loss purposes as it promotes metabolism and helps break down fat cells, thereby increasing body fat burning. Thomas appears to have been taking it to increase his athletic ability.

Paramedics arrived within minutes of Thomas suffering cardiac arrest and rushed him to the hospital, but he was pronounced dead at 4pm on January 5.

As a result of the autopsy, 392 mg of caffeine per liter, equivalent to 200 cups of coffee, was detected in the blood. The coroner said death can occur if the amount of caffeine in the blood is more than 78 mg per liter. His cause of death was given as caffeine intoxication. Chief coroner John Gittins recorded his death as an accident resulting from the unintended consequences of consuming caffeine powder.

It was revealed that this incident occurred because Thomas mistakenly consumed an amount close to 16 times the maximum recommended dose indicated on the back of the package. The recommended intake of the product he consumed was 60 to 300 mg twice a day.

In an investigation into the incident conducted in 2022, it was confirmed that the digital scale he had could only measure more than 2 grams, and investigators found that Thomas tried to aim for a moderate amount, but appears to have accidentally ingested up to 5 grams of powder. Here’s the explanation.

Following the incident, the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) urged consumers to be especially careful to follow the correct caffeine intake. Professor Robin May, the FSA’s chief scientific adviser, said: “Many foods contain caffeine, but people are unaware of the high doses of caffeine in some supplements and the risks they may pose. “Caffeine supplements are very potent, so you should always follow the dosage instructions on the label and use an appropriate measuring device to confirm the correct dosage.”

“If you are experiencing side effects from caffeine, such as insomnia or nervousness, you should also consider the amount of caffeine you consume through supplements in addition to diet,” he said. The agency also recommended that pregnant women limit their caffeine intake to 200 mg per day.

The seller later took steps to provide measuring spoons and instructions for use. The FSA added: “We are reminding businesses of their responsibility to provide safe food and comply with food labeling and ingredient requirements to help consumers make informed choices about the food they eat.”

Caffeine found in cola and chocolate… Be sure to check the daily intake amount carefully.

Caffeine supplements are products that provide highly concentrated caffeine and are sold in various forms such as pills, capsules, powder, and liquid. It is mainly used to increase energy, reduce fatigue, and improve concentration and exercise performance. It is often consumed as needed by athletes, busy office workers, and students.

Caffeine itself is an ingredient that is widely present in not only coffee and green tea, which many people enjoy, but also cola, chocolate, and medicines such as cold medicine and headache medicine. Therefore, caution is needed as the amount of caffeine inadvertently consumed may be more than expected.

The daily caffeine intake limit recommended by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is less than 400 mg for adults and less than 300 mg for pregnant women. Children and adolescents should consume less than 2.5 mg per kg of body weight. The amount of caffeine in a cup of Americano is about 150 mg.

Caffeine has beneficial effects on the body, such as relieving fatigue, clearing the mind, and removing waste products from the body through diuretic action. However, excessive intake may cause symptoms such as anxiety, nausea, and vomiting, and when poisoned, nervousness, muscle spasms, insomnia, heart palpitations, and calcium imbalance may occur. Caffeine supplements are a highly concentrated form of caffeine, so if you regularly consume caffeine-based foods such as coffee or tea, you can easily overconsume them. This can cause side effects such as insomnia, nervousness, headaches, digestive problems, and increased heart rate.

To prevent excessive intake of caffeine, you must carefully check the amount of caffeine contained in food and the daily intake standard. Even young children and teenagers consume caffeine found in cola or chocolate, so their guardians need to be careful. To avoid caffeine addiction, it can be helpful to drink a lot of water, exercise, avoid feeling hungry for a long time, get enough sleep, and consume healthy alternative beverages such as decaf.

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