HARRISBURG – Philadelphia County Rep. Sean Dougherty intends to introduce legislation that would require retail food facilities to display “high caffeine” or similar warnings next to any beverage that contains 80 milligrams or more of caffeine. The warnings would be required to be placed on any menu in the restaurant that contains a heavily caffeinated beverage. Dougherty cited a University of Pennsylvania student who lost their life after consuming a beverage that they did not know was highly caffeinated. The student was born with a heart condition which left her susceptible to heavily caffeinated beverages. While many consume caffeine frequently or even daily with little-to-no issues, the fact remains that caffeine is a stimulant, and a powerful one at high doses. Similar legislation has been introduced in several other states and at the federal level. A co-sponsorship memo is being circulated seeking support.
REP. SEAN DOUGHERTY