How America’s love affair with caffeine has sparked a crisis of overdoses — and what the FDA is trying to do about it

Espressos pack a punch of caffeine, but it's nothing compared to the amount in a pinch of powdered caffeine. (Eli Meir Kaplan/Vigilante Coffee)

By Ariana Eunjung Cha-September 2

There was a time when getting your daily dose of caffeine meant a simple cup of coffee or tea.

Poured into a ceramic mug, the steaming liquid tended to be enough to give most people that extra burst of energy to get out the door. Back then, you'd have to drink a heck of a lot -- 81 cups of brewed coffee, or 317 cups of black tea, for the average 195-pound U.S. male -- to reach a lethal dose. So while you might still get the occasional shakiness, nausea and fast heartbeat associated with ingesting too much caffeine, you were highly unlikely to die from it.

How America’s Love Affair With Caffeine Has Sparked a Crisis of Overdoses — and What the FDA is Trying to D... by Thavam Ratna