As students prepare to return to school, parents may want to take a closer look at what is stocked in school vending machines — and what their children are drinking or snacking on throughout the day.
Nearly two-thirds of U.S. children and teens consume caffeine on any given day, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The findings show caffeine is not coming only from coffee or highly caffeinated energy drinks. Soda, chocolate milk, candy and baked goods are among the leading sources.
The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics found 62.6 percent of children and teens ages 2 through 19 consumed at least 1 milligram of caffeine during a single day. The estimates were based on nationally representative dietary surveys conducted from August 2021 through August 2023.
Caffeine consumption was reported among:
Average intake rose sharply with age, from 5 milligrams a day among children ages 2 through 5 to 12 milligrams among those ages 6 through 11 and 30.7 milligrams among those ages 12 through 19. The average for the oldest group was roughly comparable to the caffeine in a 12-ounce can of soda, according to the report.
The biggest caffeine sources differed by age.
Among children ages 2 through 11, sweet baked goods, such as cookies, brownies, doughnuts, cakes and pastries, accounted for the largest share of caffeine intake. Flavored milk, candy, soda and tea rounded out the top five.
For youths ages 12 through 19, soda was the leading source, followed by sweet baked goods, tea, coffee and candy. Energy drinks did not rank among the five largest sources for either age group.
About 7.2 percent of the caffeine youths consumed came from food or drinks obtained at school cafeterias or day care centers. Another 5.7 percent came from convenience stores or vending machines, although the CDC data did not separate school vending machines from those in other locations.
Most caffeine was consumed at home, and nearly two-thirds came from products purchased at grocery stores. Fast-food restaurants accounted for 10 percent.
Researchers have not established a safe caffeine intake level through studies involving children, the CDC said. Caffeine can interfere with sleep, and many caffeinated foods and beverages also contain large amounts of added sugar, which can contribute to cavities, obesity and type 2 diabetes.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says children's developing bodies and brains are more sensitive to caffeine's stimulant effects. Possible reactions include restlessness, anxiety, nausea, rapid breathing, elevated blood pressure, an irregular or fast heartbeat, diarrhea and lost sleep.
Pediatricians recommend that children and teens avoid energy drinks, which are different from sports drinks used to replace carbohydrates and electrolytes during prolonged or intense exercise.
Parents can check labels for caffeine as well as ingredients such as coffee, tea, chocolate, guarana or kola nut. They also can ask schools whether vending machines, cafeterias, student stores or concession stands sell caffeinated products and whether students have access to them throughout the school day.
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