TORONTO - Health Canada (HC), Canada's governmental department responsible for national public health, announced last week that it is authorizing the use of caffeine in all carbonated soft drinks, not just cola-type beverages, the Toronto Star reports.

Beverage makers will be allowed to add caffeine to non-cola drinks in concentrations up to and including 150 parts per million. The maximum amount of caffeine allowed in colas is 200 parts per million.

Health Canada said that it determined that 150 parts per million does not pose a health risk as long as it is included in the recommended maximum daily intake of caffeine, which it pegs at 400 milligrams ?" or roughly three cups of coffee. While it has not developed maximum caffeine levels for adolescents, it suggests that the intake should not exceed 2.5-mg/kg body weight.

The department has asked beverage manufacturers to voluntarily list total caffeine content on all products and that they display the ingredients on package fronts of newly caffeinated drinks.

"Health Canada is currently urging industry to proactively indicate this information on product labels to provide Canadians with the tools they need to make informed decisions and to manage their caffeine consumption," said HC representative Stephane Shank. "Should we determine that stronger action is necessary to help Canadians make informed decisions, the department will look at other options, such as regulatory changes."