How much caffeine in chocolate covered coffee beans? Death by caffeine?

Caffeine was the topic of my first post back in 2009: (http://healthyweightcenter.blogspot.com/2009/01/caffeine-confusion.html), and a family member just asked me how much caffeine is in various drinks and food - including those popular chocolate-covered coffee beans.   Great question, since excess caffeine can cause insomnia, anxiety, racing heart/palpitations, elevated blood pressure, and even death (there have been some tragic cases over the last year:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2867551/Dead-teens-parents-seek-ban-caffeine-powder.html )

Caffeine can be safe for many people, however, when consumed in small amounts. Studies have found that there may be some benefit with small amounts of caffeine, including increased alertness and mental focus, and ability to 'multitask' or switch tasks:  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301051106000330  But too much of a 'good thing', and mental confusion and agitation can occur.  Each person must monitor his/her own response to caffeine, become educated about side effects and proper usage, and 'be smart' about it! Caffeine withdrawal - which includes headache, fatigue, and irritability - can be avoided by keeping daily caffeine intake stable, consuming small amounts at about the same time, in the same dose, every day. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090501162805.htm

So, how much is too much?  Here is a great resource about caffeine use in kids, for parents:  http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/health/caffeine.pdf
It turns out that THREE little chocolate-covered coffee beans have 36 mg of caffeine.  Yikes!   That's as much as a cup of regular tea, or a can of regular or diet cola!  Eight ounces of coffee can vary considerably in caffeine content - from 75-200 mg of caffeine:  http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372

Want to calculate how much caffeine it would take to kill you?  Turns out there's an app for that:  http://www.caffeineinformer.com/death-by-caffeine
Also a list of caffeine content for drinks by brand:  http://www.caffeineinformer.com/the-caffeine-database

So, for now, I think we'll keep it to three coffee beans per day!

For more information from the CDC on the dangers of caffeine and alcohol consumption:  http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/caffeine-and-alcohol.htm
For more on caffeine use by children and teens:  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/272426.php