The FDA allows caffeine in foods and extracts from foods.

It is when a product ADDS the ingredient as extra, that labeling
requirements change.

For example, V8 vegetable juice has more potassium than most RX tablets. This is because the veggies that are juiced contain alot of potassium. But potassium supplements only have a maximum allowable limit, of 99mg each tablet per the FDA.
Gatorade is man made, has no natural extracts, and hence only 30mg of potassium per serving.

Coffee is a natural thing. Coffee yogurt has caffeine because the coffee mixed in has caffeine.

To the best of my knowledge, 5 hour Energy does not have coffee in it. And the company knows how much caffeine it adds to this product. It told the website you posted exactly. The product does not have cola extract (which is what sodas use) either. I believe that caffeine was added to cola extracts decades ago when cocaine was removed. It is some grandfathered in permission. I don't know how the other types sodas get by with not labeling caffeine though.

There must be a loophole where the FDA allows things, like the proprietary mixtures on some supplements. In those cases, to protect formula "secrets" supposedly those products file for FDA approval in the labeling but consumers don't see that application or its details.

By the time all the rules are determined it is so complicated that you need a lawyer to figure it all out.

I am just saying that caffeine is a stimulant, and as such I think consumers have a right to know how much is added to this product. Caffeine is not a secret thing, it is a common substance and hence what is the problem with telling people how much is in there? Caffeine in the 5 hr energy is the MAIN ingredient as well!

Here are some links discussing the "caffeine" issue:
http://www.cspinet.org/new/caffeine.htm

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/dec...on28-2009dec28

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0924075307.htm
(this link goes into beverage caffeine content)

In other words, if a manufacturer is consumer aware, they will
help and disclose. That is the bottom line.
An example:
The Frito-Lay company disclosed and removed transfats years before the 2006 dead line finally imposed by the government.
This I think is an example of ethical and positive response to
consumer concerns about the fats used to make FritoLay products. But I think Frito-Lay is the exception, and not the rule as far as food labeling goes.

5 hour Energy does not disclose. For healthy people, this is less of a problem, but for older people, or those with chronic illness or taking many medications, caffeine then could become problematic. It seems odd to me that you could buy NODoz and see right on it how much caffeine is in each tablet. But if you get a soft drink or this Energy product you are blind to what you are consuming.

I consider caffeine to be a DRUG. It happens to be OTC, but so are other strong drugs. It has health ramifications...can induce headaches upon withdrawal and cause significant anxiety, insomnia and cardio effects in some people. This product appears to have almost 5 times the caffeine content compared to a diet cola (ave 30mg each). So to
me it seems significant and worth having more information about.