Alert issued for protein powder with ‘potentially lethal’ amounts of caffeine

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is warning shoppers not to consume a protein powder which contains ‘potentially lethal’ amounts of caffeine.

Home Bargains has recalled 1.5kg bags of Sci-Mx Nutrition Ultra Muscle Strawberry Flavour, with a best before date of March 2025.

The FSA said its tests found the product contained more than 5,000mg ofcaffeine per serving.

If consumers had two servings a day, as recommended on the packaging, they’d receive a daily dose of 10,000mg, or 10g, of caffeine.

For most people, 10g of caffeine is a lethal dose, the FSA warned.

However doses as low as 3g have been identified as potentially lethal, for people who are sensitive to caffeine.

FSA head of incidents Tina Potter said: ‘If you have purchased this product, do not take the risk of consuming it.

‘High levels of caffeine can cause anxiety, sleeplessness, agitation, palpitations, diarrhoea and restlessness, and individuals with a mental health condition can experience worsened psychosis.

‘In this case, the exceptionally high levels of caffeine could mean the consequences are even more severe and perhaps even fatal.’

Affected products can be identified by the batch code W110429, which can be found next to the best before date on the packaging.

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