Caffeinated peanut butter: 5 reasons why it is catching the Senate's attention

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The all-time favorite peanut butter has gotten a makeover and the United States senate is concerned, TIME reports. What has come to be known as caffeinated peanut butter is gaining popularity, and that's thanks to STEEM, a company that manufactures the product that claims to "provide a consistent release of sustained energy" and "deliver protein, electrolytes, and caffeine, granting you hours of endurance and focus, and freeing you from distractions like hunger and fatigue."

However, STEEM Caffeinated Peanut Butter contains "as much caffeine as two cups of coffee" (it contains 170 milligrams of caffeine), which is why the company recommends consuming only the normal serving suggestion. Here are some reasons why this product has caught the attention of the U.S. Senate.

1. It raises questions about how it affects the body. CBS News reports that Senator Charles Schumer has called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to investigate this product because of its high caffeine content. Sen. Charles said, "Too much caffeine can cause a person to be jitteryeveryone's experienced that. But it can raise their blood pressure, cause heart palpitations and worse."

2. Caffeine is an unregulated substance in food. "The FDA does not require the amount of caffeine to be listed on food labels," Sen. Schumer said. "So this stuff and other snacks can have a lot of caffeine and the consumer wouldn’t even know."

New York Post reports that according to the senator, if this and other caffeinated products are not carefully regulated, it may be placed by manufacturers in other foods.

3. It may be bad for children. Sen. Schumer said that the caffeine content in this type of peanut butter may affect children differently and may cause health problems. Moreover, he said that if the FDA continues to allow this, "it can spread to all kinds of other snacks, even Popsicles, candy, things that kids eat."

Chicago Tribune reports that in 2013, the FDA ordered Wrigley to stop producing caffeinated gum.

4. Caffeine overdose is a serious health risk. In September, the FDA warned against the consumption of pure powdered caffeine being sold by five distributors. The FDA announced, "Symptoms of caffeine overdose can include rapid or dangerously erratic heartbeat, seizures, and death. Vomiting, diarrhea, stupor and disorientation are also symptoms of caffeine toxicity. These symptoms are likely to be much more severe than those resulting from drinking too much coffee, tea or other caffeinated beverages."

5. Pets cannot ingest caffeine. In fact, the company website warns: "DO NOT GIVE TO ANIMALS. EVER. Fun fact: a lot of domestic animals, like dogs and cats and birds, cannot digest caffeine properly and it can lead to SERIOUS health issues." This poses the question then: If you would not give it to your pet, why would you put it inside your body?