Focus on pregnancy coffee risk

The study hopes to resolve the issue of maximum caffeine intake during pregnancy to avoid low-birth weight. In 2001 the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (CoT) looked at the effects of caffeine on reproduction and concluded that caffeine intakes above 300mg a day may be associated with low birth weight and, in some cases, miscarriage. 300 mg of caffeine is roughly equivalent to: four average cups or three average mugs of instant coffee; three average cups of brewed coffee; six average cups of tea; eight cans of regular cola drinks; four cans of so-called “energy” drinks or 400g (eight standard 50g bars) of normal chocolate. Over the course of three years they will study about 3,000 pregnant women – 10% of whom are estimated to deliver babies with low birth weights. [via BBC: Health]