Method validation for assessing caffeine content in carbonated soft drinks and risk characterization in Bangladesh
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: • The HPLC-UV method was validated for caffeine quantification in soft drinks. • Nearly 50% of tested beverages contained caffeine, with 4 samples exceeding safety limits. • The method showed high linearity, accuracy, and precision as per ICH guidelines. • Health risks assessed across age and weight groups using hazard quotient. • Findings will support improving caffeine regulation and food labeling policies. Caffeine, a widely consumed psychoactive substance, is frequently found in carbonated soft drinks. Its intake poses potential health risks, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children and adolescents. This study aimed to determine the caffeine content in various commercially available carbonated soft drinks in Bangladesh, validate a suitable analytical method for accurate quantification, and assess the associated health risks based on consumption patterns. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method using a reversed-phase C18 column and UV detection at 272 nm was validated following the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines. The method exhibited good linearity (R² = 0.9998), accuracy (100.12%–101.29%), and precision within a 10–250 mg/L range. Among 47 soft drink samples analyzed, caffeine was detected in 23, with concentrations ranging from 3.473 to 248.673 mg/L. Four samples of carbonated soft drinks exceeded the maximum allowable limit of 145 mg/L set by the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Health risk assessment revealed that adolescents are particularly vulnerable, with hazard quotient (HQ) values exceeding safe limits when consuming 1000 mL of high-caffeine beverages, and even 250 mL poses sleep-related risks for lower body weight individuals. These findings highlight the need for stronger regulatory monitoring, improved labeling transparency, and targeted public health strategies to mitigate potential health risks associated with caffeine intake from soft drinks in Bangladesh.
Source: Applied Food Research
Authors: Tasmia Akter, Puja Saha, Shiek Muzahidul Islam, Anika Tabassum, Md. Nurul Huda Bhuiyan, Maksuda Begum, Mohammad Tariqul Hassan
Language: English
Topic: Coffee research and impacts
Subfield: Pharmacology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,050
OpenAlex ID: W7116187972