“Coffee products in California will soon include cancer warning labels — assuming an LA judge’s recent decision stands. This means shops like Starbucks and Peet’s Coffee, in additional to smaller roasters like Four Barrel, may soon be required to post signage or include warnings on individually packaged products or in physical retail locations.”
“On Wednesday, a Los Angeles judge ruled in favor of a nonprofit that sued 90 coffee companies on the grounds that they have failed to comply with a state law that requires companies to warn consumers about chemicals in their products that could cause cancer, Reuters reported.”
Many supermarkets, all gas stations, nail salons, many gardening stores, and a myriad of other shops all post warning stickers on their doors.
Even basic items such as electrical cords and mattresses carry labels warning of cancer risk.
I am not sure of specific food items labeled with cancer warnings. Then again, the food processing and retail food companies and restaurants have a very strong group of lobbyists to avoid such labels, so… we ignore it all. It’s political, not practical.
Sure, that’s certainly convenient when I walk into a nail salon.
“May cause cancer.” What does that even mean? At what levels? Is it dangerous to people exposed to it every day, e.g., employees? Or the public at large, meaning you “may” get cancer by simply picking up your dry-cleaning once a week?
The labels are useless because they provide zero science to back up the assertion. How much coffee will cause cancer? Th warnings don’t say.
Yet, I would say that the general population has a decent awareness that eating too much cured meat and red meat is not good. Remember the whole national mood of eating white meat instead of red meat? WHO has already spoken on this.
Coffee is something which some people consume in large quality. I know many people drink 3-4 cups a day. Some people may say that we don’t know for sure it will cost cancer, and that is true, which is why it is a label. It can be perceived irresponsible not to provide this warning if it turns out that it is truly carcinogen.
Acrylamide is a chemical that naturally forms in starchy food products during high-temperature cooking, including frying, baking, roasting and also industrial processing, at +120°C and low moisture. The main chemical process that causes this is known as the Maillard Reaction; it is the same reaction that ‘browns’ food and affects its taste. Acrylamide forms from sugars and amino acids (mainly one called asparagine) that are naturally present in many foods. Acrylamide is found in products such as potato crisps, French fries, bread, biscuits and coffee. It was first detected in foods in April 2002 although it is likely that it has been present in food since cooking began. Acrylamide also has many non-food industrial uses and is present in tobacco smoke.
Since acrylamide is present in a wide range of everyday foods, this health concern applies to all consumers but children are the most exposed age group on a body weight basis. The most important food groups contributing to acrylamide exposure are fried potato products, coffee, biscuits, crackers, crisp bread and soft bread.
Problem: I cannot find more info on what cancer this chemical can cause? How many people died from that each year, etc.
Besides, why fries, toasts, baked goods etc. have no warning then?
Anyway, I don’t think I am worried about this, given the fact that even eating bread you can die, or drinking “heavy metal” water, or eating vegetables with too much pesticides…alcohol is dangerous.
Life is short, be merry, enjoy life, don’t get too stressed, and you will live ok.
It’s all about the risk. The risk is much higher, if I get in my truck for an early morning commute, without coffee. There are deer jumping into the road, idiots texting and driving, bicycles and dogs entering the roadways. One needs to be frosty; coffee saves lives.
Dammit. I’m just getting over the egg and butter thing. I had my first cup of Taster’s Choice when I was 9 years old. I think + 50 years. I’m calling it bs.
Bah humbug! The American Cancer Society has a good read on this: Coffee and Cancer I’d add that there are two ways one can reduce risk, if you care: 1. Do not drink very hot coffee; let it cool a bit. Black tea was suspected of causing cancer until it was revealed temperature had a lot to do with the association with cancer. 2. Avoid dark roast coffee. Generally, Acrylamide increases with greater cook times and temperature. Try La Amistad (Costa Rica) medium roast next time you make espresso. Dark roasting does burn off some flavor components.
Since coffee is diuretic, do your kidneys a favor and drink a healthy amount of clean, plain water throughout the day.
Lastly, do not eat the coffee warning labels, they are carcinogenic.
From I have read, light roasted coffee generally has higher acrylamide contents
Hojska and Gielecinska
“In fact a negative correlation was observed (r = -0.5569, p<0.05), between acrylamide levels and the intensity of coffee colourings…”
Alves et. al:
"In a general way, acrylamide levels in ground coffee (both arabica and robusta) significantly decreased (p< 0.05) with increased roasting period, for each individual sample. In fact, very high levels of acrylamide were detected in the lightest roasted coffee samples "
Don’t worry about it. I initially thought acrylamide will increase with roast time (light roast will have less) too, but then I started reading about it, and it seems to point to the opposite direction. The argument is that acrylamide forms really quick during the roasting process. Therefore, roasting longer will not create more. However, roasting longer can destroy some.
