Consumers will soon be given more tools to make informed decisions when it comes to energy drinks.

Until last fall, energy drinks were classified by Health Canada as a Natural Health Product (NHP), because some of them make health claims, specifically around what they can do for mental alertness and awareness.

As a result, most were not required to put a nutrition facts table on their products.

But new measures by the agency will see most energy drinks now classified in legal terms a food, meaning that the nutrition facts table will be on every can.

Viewer Janey Van Winkle wrote to Steele on Your Side after purchasing an "Inked" energy drink from 7-Eleven in Vanderhoof, B.C., and noticed that it didn't have any nutritional info on the packaging.

She asked: "Isn't it law in Canada that food products must list calorie content alongvwith everything else, like percentage of fat?"

Stephane Shank of Health Canada says energy drink producers must start labeling their products by late 2013. Companies are being allowed a 24-month "transitional period" to comply.

Health Canada is also imposing a number of other requirements for the caffeine-filled drinks, including:

  • Allowing a maximum concentration of 100 mg of caffeine per 250 ml
  • Setting a maximum concentration of 180 mg of caffeine in any single-serve beverage (about what would be found in a medium-sized coffee)
  • Requiring labels to indicate total caffeine content and say the product is a source of high caffeine
  • Requiring statements on the product saying it is not recommended for children, pregnant and breastfeeding women.
  • Adding a warning that the drink shouldn't be mixed with alcohol
  • Limiting the types and levels of vitamins and minerals that can be added

Health Canada has long warned against children consuming energy drinks, saying a single serving often contains more than the recommended daily maximum for caffeine intake.

If kids are active in sports or other physical activity, the agency recommends having water or a sports drink such as Gatorade or Powerade to replace electrolytes.