Sunday, 14 September 2008

Caffeine in Nutrition
CAFFEINE in your SPORTS NUTRITION? We would like to refer to section 2.9.4 of the food standards code. A lot of you may not be aware that under this section of the code, well lets say this is where sports nutritional products fall within the Australian Food Standards. Under this section of the code, caffeine is deemed to be not an acceptable additive / ingredient unless sourced from another food group - ie coffee / guarana etc. A lot of you may not be aware of this section of the code. Effectively this means that gels, powders and bars are not supposed to contain caffeine as a direct ingredient. We find it extremely interesting that this code, 2.9.4 has and continues to maintain this stance. Incline is frustrated that we are unableto deliver any product that contains caffeine into the Australian market place. (our AccelGel chocolate and Raspberry Cream products are not permitted under this ruling.) Incline wishes to express clearly that we are pushing hard to have this reviewed for all our athlete's within Australia. The bottom line, well lets say the frustration is that we are faced with going back to the 1960's when they banned caffeine as an ingredient, yet it seems that Australian standards maintains this attitude. We feel that caffeine used in the correct manner and at the right levels can achieve positive stimulation in the uptake of protein and carbohydrates thus achieving an improved balance whilst under higher workloads. This will effect all players in the market and all brands presenting caffiene as an ingredient. We wish to also comment that not all products are conducent with the uptake of caffeine from other food sources, considering texture, flavour and the manufacturing process - ie our AccelGel due to the protein in a 4:1 ratio requires complex processing to retain texture and the smoothness that you all have come to enjoy.
INCLINE