IT'S the corn chip that will set your heart racing . . . literally. A new flavour of CC's loaded with more caffeine than a can of V energy drink is being sold in convenience stores and petrol stations.

Each 90g packet of CC's Cheese Energy Flavoured Corn Chips contains 80mg of caffeine and 469mg of guarana extract, another stimulant, while a 250mL can of V Guarana Energy Drink contains 78mg of caffeine and 300mg of guarana extract.

Despite Snack Brands Australia warning consumers not to eat more than a packet a day and for pregnant women and children not to eat them at all, they are sold over the counter for $3.35.

Nutritionists are outraged at the energy corn chips and want the product banned. Children may experience insomnia, cardiac arrhythmia, shakiness, irritability, tachycardia, an upset stomach and even dehydration from the high caffeine levels.

"This is a terrible product; I'm horrified," nutritionist Catherine Saxelby said. "If a kid consumes these CC's with a can of cola or an energy drink, they're really getting a double hit of caffeine."

Nutritionist Rosemary Stanton says the written warning on the pack that the corn chips are "not for the faint of heart" will entice children.

"It is actually used as a sales tactic; you're not meant to have this but you can buy it off the shelf, so why not?

"You can get that boost from drinking a cup of strong coffee, but we don't give kids coffee because we've known for generations they shouldn't drink coffee.

"This gives kids the idea that they have got to have some sort of pick-me-up and start looking for an extra stimulant and I think that is a bad principle."

The NSW Food Authority launched a preliminary investigation to examine the CC's caffeine content after the product was brought to its attention by The Sunday Telegraph, but found it did not breach any codes.