The Sarah Katz Caffeine Safety Act

Where This Stands

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Signed

Currently IN_COMMITTEE. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

If passed, this law would force large restaurant chains and food manufacturers to disclose specific caffeine levels on menus and packaging, potentially changing how consumers purchase caffeinated beverages and dietary supplements.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Restaurant chains with 20+ locations

Must update menus and menu boards to disclose caffeine content for items exceeding 150mg.

Food and dietary supplement manufacturers

Must update product labels to include caffeine content, source, and health advisories for products with over 10mg of caffeine.

Vulnerable populations (children, pregnant women, heart condition patients)

The subject of mandated safety studies and public education campaigns regarding caffeine intake.

What changed

Current stage: IN_COMMITTEE.

What's next

Floor Vote.

Background

Sarah Katz was a 19-year-old student who died in 2022 after consuming a highly caffeinated energy drink, which prompted legislative efforts to increase transparency regarding caffeine content. context

Summary

This bill requires restaurants and food companies to clearly label the amount of caffeine in their products and mandates new safety studies and public education campaigns regarding caffeine consumption. It specifically targets high-caffeine items and aims to protect vulnerable populations like children and those with heart conditions.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which restaurants must follow these new labeling rules?

Restaurants and retail food establishments that are part of a chain with 20 or more locations doing business under the same name.

What information must be on the label for food and supplements?

The exact amount of caffeine in milligrams, whether the caffeine is natural or added, and an advisory statement about the daily recommended limit for healthy adults.

What is the 'High caffeine' threshold for menus?

Any standard or containing at least 150 milligrams of caffeine per serving.

Why It Matters

If passed, this law would force large restaurant chains and food manufacturers to disclose specific caffeine levels on menus and packaging, potentially changing how consumers purchase caffeinated beverages and dietary supplements.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Focus on Stimulant Combinations

The bill explicitly links caffeine safety reviews to other stimulants like guarana and taurine, suggesting a broader regulatory concern than caffeine alone.

Department of Health and Human Services

Connected Entities

personMenendez“Co-sponsor of the bill”Map →

organizationCongress“The legislative body considering the bill”Map →

personSarah Katz“Name of the bill”Map →

bill_number118th Congress“The current congressional session”Map →

personSmith of New Jersey“Co-sponsor of the bill”Map →

organizationEnergy and Commerce Committee“Committee reviewing the bill”Map →

organizationU.S. Government Publishing Office“Source of the document”Map →

bill_numberFederal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act“The act being amended”Map →

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance85
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy40
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz30
Current news / social attention level