A 12-year-old boy was hospitalized with chest discomfort after consuming over 50 pieces of Tyson Fury ‘Furocity’ caffeine chewing gum in a day. Oliver Wood, 12, purchased four packs for £1 at Farmfoods, mistaking them for regular chewing gum. Unknowingly, he ingested more than 2,000mg of caffeine within 24 hours, equivalent to 20 coffees or about 25 cans of Red Bull. Concerned about chest pains and feeling jittery, Oliver confided in his mother, Anne-Marie Willis, 35, who promptly sought medical assistance. After blood tests and monitoring, Oliver was discharged the following morning as his heart rate returned to normal.
Anne-Marie, a full-time carer from Swindon, Wiltshire, emphasized the dangers of caffeinated gum for children, noting that a single pack contains 1840mg of caffeine, far exceeding the recommended daily limit for a healthy 10-year-old. While there are no laws prohibiting the sale of caffeine products to minors, the government has committed to barring the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under 16 as part of a health initiative. Anne-Marie, a fan of Tyson Fury, expressed her alarm at the lack of regulations surrounding the sale of high-caffeine products to minors, stressing the need for increased awareness and stricter guidelines.
Oliver’s purchase of the gum on a promotional deal at Farmfoods led to his hospitalization, prompting Anne-Marie to advocate for better oversight in the sale of such products. Despite receiving a gesture of goodwill from Farmfoods following her complaint, Anne-Marie underscored the importance of ensuring children’s safety when purchasing items that contain potentially harmful substances like caffeine. She has taken her concerns to the Food Standards Agency and her MP, with efforts to raise awareness about the risks associated with these products. Furocity, the manufacturer of the gum, has been approached for comments, while Farmfoods declined to provide a response.