Upcoming Health Hazard Alert: Hide Your Coffee, Girl Overdoses on Espresso!

Alert, Alert!! Hide your grinders, pack up those coffee makers and throw away those grounds. Coffee may be hazardous to your health!

Is anybody willing to take bets on how long it will take before the food intake police call on the coffee and refreshment industry to place warning labels on products containing caffeine?

A teenager was taken to hospital after overdosing on espresso coffee.

Jasmine Willis, 17, developed a fever and began hyperventilating after drinking seven double espressos while working at her family's sandwich shop.

The student, of Stanley, County Durham, was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham, where doctors confirmed she had overdosed on caffeine.

She has since made a full recovery and is now warning others about the dangers of excessive coffee drinking. (src. BBC News)

Most people would classify this under the category of most insignificant news item of the day, yet someone at the BBC thought it was a worthy enough cause to place on their international news site. It currently holds the coveted top position on the BBC's most e-mailed list.

What would a coffee awareness article be without a blow by blow account of the harrowing experience?

Ms Willis, who had thought the coffees were single measures, said the effects were so severe that she began laughing and crying for no reason while serving customers at the shop.

She developed a fever and began struggling to breathe after being sent home by her father.

"My nerves were all over the place.

"I was drenched. I was burning up and hyperventilating.

"I was having palpitations, my heart was beating so fast and I thought I was going into shock.

"I did not realise this could happen to you and I only hope other people learn from my mistake."

The teenager, who was allowed home after a few hours of observation, suffered side effects for days afterwards and now says she cannot stand the sight of coffee.

Suffered side effects for days afterward? Can no longer stand the sight of coffee? This sounds like my reaction every time the mainstream media pumps out silly articles like the one referenced above. Maybe we can get a warning label for that.

Terry Trippany is the editor at Webloggin. All emphasis in the article is mine.