Wrigley temporarily halted production of its new Alert Energy Caffeine Gum in response to concerns expressed by the US Food and Drug Administration over the impact of caffeine on children and adolescents.

The company said it had paused the production, sale and marketing of Alert to give the FDA time to develop a new regulatory framework for the addition of caffeine to food and drinks.

The recently launched gum has about 40 milligrams of caffeine, as much as a half a cup of coffee, in each piece.

“After discussions with the FDA, we have a greater appreciation for its concern about the proliferation of caffeine in the nation’s food supply,” Wrigley North America President Casey Keller said in a statement.

Keller said there was a need for change in the regulatory framework to “better guide” consumers and the industry about the appropriate use of caffeinated products.

The company previously said it marketed the gum as an energy product for adults aged 25 and older, and that it exceeded current regulatory requirements on labelling.

The FDA said last month that it was taking a “fresh look” at the issue in response to the launch of a caffeinated gum, and warned that it would take action “if necessary”.