Ne9 is being prepared for sale as a food product in Japan and is not yet on sale. See the product specifications and launch plans for current amounts, three planned flavours and indicative price.
Some pages say the limit in pregnancy is 200mg a day. Others say 300mg.
Neither is wrong. They are quoting different authorities.
This article lines up the figures that public authorities actually publish, for pregnancy, breastfeeding, children, people sensitive to caffeine and people on medication. Where the figures disagree, that is stated too.
Japan sets no limit of its own
Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare states that a limit for caffeine intake has not been set in Japan, nor internationally.
The Food Safety Commission of Japan likewise states that no Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) has been established for caffeine. The reason is that sensitivity to caffeine varies a great deal between individuals, which makes the health effects hard to assess precisely.
So there is no such thing as "the Japanese figure". Every number you find online comes from some authority's guidance for its own population — which is why each figure below is attributed.
During pregnancy
The authorities split between 200mg and 300mg.
| Authority | Daily guidance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) | Up to 200mg | The level at which no foetal health risk arises |
| UK Food Standards Agency | 200mg | Lowered from 300mg in 2008 |
| WHO | Caution above 300mg | 2016 recommendation. In 2001, three to four cups of coffee a day |
| Health Canada | Up to 300mg | Same figure for breastfeeding and for those planning a pregnancy |
| ILSI North America | Up to 300mg | Confirmed by systematic review |
Staying within the lower figure of 200mg keeps you inside every value in the table.
For a sense of scale, here are single servings:
| Serving | Approximate caffeine | |
|---|---|---|
| Sencha (green tea) | 150ml | about 30mg |
| Black tea | 150ml | about 45mg |
| Coffee (brewed) | 150ml | about 90mg |
| Gyokuro (shaded green tea) | 150ml | about 180mg |
| Caffeine pouch | 1 pouch | 150–200mg |
A single caffeine pouch reaches or exceeds 200mg. You can leave half a cup of coffee. A pouch is the stated amount, with no way to take less.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, avoid use or ask a doctor first.
While breastfeeding
| Authority | Guidance |
|---|---|
| EFSA | Up to 200mg per single dose, and up to 200mg per day |
| Health Canada | Up to 300mg per day |
EFSA gives breastfeeding a single-dose figure as well as a daily one. That matters for any format with a large serving size.
Children and adolescents
Health Canada publishes figures by age, based on 2.5mg per kg of body weight applied to standard weights for each age.
| Age | Daily guidance |
|---|---|
| 4–6 years | Up to 45mg |
| 7–9 years | Up to 62.5mg |
| 10–12 years | Up to 85mg |
| 13 years and over | Up to 2.5mg per kg of body weight |
EFSA notes that the evidence for children and adolescents is limited, but considers that the same 3mg per kg of body weight used for adults can be applied both as a single dose and as a daily intake.
Placed next to everyday servings, the amounts are small:
- 85mg even at age 12 — less than one cup of coffee (about 90mg)
- A caffeine pouch is 150–200mg — above the daily figure for every age in the table
Keep them out of reach of children. Storage is covered in storing and disposing of caffeine pouches.
Japan's MHLW also advises that children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people sensitive to caffeine refrain from consumption.
People sensitive to caffeine, and before bed
As the Food Safety Commission of Japan notes, sensitivity to caffeine varies widely between individuals — the same amount affects people differently. That is precisely why no single ADI has been set.
For sleep, the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) gives a figure: a single dose of 100mg immediately before bed (about 1.4mg per kg for a 70kg adult) may disturb sleep in some adults. The same may apply to children and teenagers taking about 1.4mg per kg before bed.
100mg is less than a cup of coffee. Avoid use before bed.
People on medication or under treatment
This is the one area that numbers cannot settle, for two reasons.
First, every figure above applies to healthy adults. EFSA's assessment does not cover people with diseases, or combinations with medicines. The premise behind the numbers does not hold.
Second, caffeine is not only in food. Health Canada points out that caffeine is also found in some over-the-counter cold and headache remedies, and advises reading the label on every product carefully. Counting only food and drink will not give you your actual total.
If you are on medication or under treatment, avoid use or ask a doctor or pharmacist first.
What to watch with the pouch format
The serving is large. Products on the market run from around 150mg to around 200mg per pouch. Against the figures above — 200mg in pregnancy, 45–85mg for children — a single pouch accounts for a very large share.
You cannot take less. A pouch is the stated amount. Choosing a serving size is covered in 150mg or 200mg, which to choose.
Check the label. Whether a product states a daily guideline and its cautions is something you can check before buying — see how to choose a caffeine pouch.
Questions
Why do the figures differ between authorities?
Each authority issues guidance for its own population based on its own assessment. Japan has set no limit, so there is no single official answer. Staying within the lowest figure keeps you inside the others.
Can I use a caffeine pouch during pregnancy?
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, avoid use or ask a doctor first. At 150–200mg, one pouch reaches or exceeds the 200mg figure given for pregnancy.
What if a child puts one in their mouth?
Age, body weight and amount all change the picture, so do not judge it yourself. In Japan, the Japan Poison Information Center runs a free advice line for the public, 24 hours a day, every day of the year: Osaka 072-727-2499, Tsukuba 029-852-9999. If there are symptoms, seek medical care first.
How do I know whether I am sensitive to caffeine?
Public sources confirm that sensitivity varies widely, but no method of telling in advance is published. Ask a doctor if you are concerned.
I take cold medicine. Can I use one as well?
Some over-the-counter cold and headache remedies contain caffeine. Check the label first, and if you are on medication or under treatment, ask a doctor or pharmacist.
What happens if I go over the daily guideline?
Dizziness, a raised heart rate, agitation, anxiety, tremor, difficulty sleeping, diarrhoea and nausea can occur. Daily guidance is covered in how much caffeine a day is the guideline?.
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, sensitive to caffeine, on medication or under treatment, avoid use or ask a doctor first
- Avoid using it before bed
- This is a food product. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease
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Ne9 for reference
| Category | Food (confectionery, individually portioned) |
| Caffeine | 150mg per pouch |
| L-theanine | 75mg per pouch |
| Daily guideline | Up to 2 pouches (300mg of caffeine) |
The daily guideline is printed on the lid. It assumes a healthy adult, and does not apply to the groups above.
Sources
The figures above are quoted as published:
- Food Safety Commission of Japan, caffeine factsheet — no ADI set; the WHO, EFSA, UK FSA, Health Canada, AGES and ILSI North America figures; caffeine content by food
- MHLW on excessive caffeine intake — no limit set in Japan; cautions by group
- EFSA's caffeine assessment — healthy adults, pregnancy, breastfeeding, children and adolescents
- Japan Poison Information Center — public advice line
- Caffeine per serving is based on Japan's Standard Tables of Food Composition (MEXT). Coffee varies a great deal with the beans and the brewing method
Each authority set its own scope and conditions. These are not allowances to be added up and filled. Ask a doctor if you are unsure.