Four tell-tale symptoms as one coffee can push you close to daily limit

Four tell-tale symptoms as one coffee can push you close to daily limitIt can be difficult to know how much caffeine is in your drinkCommentsNewsNeil Shaw Assistant Editor (Money and Lifestyle)09:46, 13 Apr 2026View 4 ImagesA man with a painful stomach, and a cup of coffeeMany people are unaware how much caffeine they consume every day and could easily be breaching the 'safe limit', experts have said, thanks to products that contain hidden amounts. According to the NHS and Food Standards Agency, 400mg of caffeine a day is 'unlikely to cause adverse effects' - with pregnant women told to stick to half that amount.‌But one large coffee from a High Street chain could contain as much as 370mg of caffeine alone. According to new research by Northerner, nearly two-thirds of people admit they don’t know how much caffeine is in their daily coffee. Only 28% say they know exactly how much caffeine they drink each day.‌Markus Lindblad, Head of Legal and External Affairs from Northerner, said: "Our research shows there is very little awareness amongst UK consumers about how much caffeine they are consuming or how much might be too much."‌View 4 ImagesWatch out for anxiety and headachesHe added: "According to the European Food Safety Authority, up to 400mg of caffeine consumed throughout the day does not raise safety concerns for healthy adults. That’s equivalent to about four cups of instant coffee or five cups of tea. When it comes to tracking your intake of caffeine, you should be mindful that products such as paracetamol, fizzy drinks and even decaffeinated drinks can sometimes include caffeine, something over 40% of Brits were unaware of."Whilst it’s usually only small amounts, it can all add up throughout the day, quickly pushing people over their recommended daily limit. Whilst five cups of tea or four cups of instant coffee might seem a lot during a day, these ‘homemade’ drinks typically contain much lower levels of caffeine than d...