California lawmakers are seeking to ban decaffeinated coffee or force companies to change their recipes to eliminate a chemical linked to cancer.
The majority of decaffeinated coffees are made using methylene chloride, also found in paint strippers, which is used to remove caffeine from coffee beans during the manufacturing process.
The EPA and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have called methylene chloride a “probable carcinogen” after studies linked it to cancers of the blood, breasts and other parts of the body.
But under new legislation, introduced by Democratic Assembly member Eloise Reyes, the state would ban decaffeinated coffee made from the chemical, forcing manufacturers to change recipes or face a fine of $10,000.
The graphic above shows how decaffeinated coffee is prepared using the European method, the most common method for preparing decaffeinated coffee. Tests show traces of methylene chloride remain in coffees even after processing
California considers banning decaffeinated coffee made from methylene chloride (file photo)
It comes after California became the first state in the US to ban four chemical candies linked to cancer and hyperactivity in children.
Coffee manufacturers insist that the chemical is removed from the beans after processing, and any remaining amount then evaporates when the beans are heated to 400 F (204 C) during roasting.
But tests by consumer watchdogs have shown that this is not the case and that traces remain in decaffeinated coffee.
The Consumer Group Clean Label Project found that 10 of 25 decaf coffee brands tested contained the chemical in 2020, with brands including Amazon Fresh and Kroger being the worst offenders.
The levels were low, however, with none exceeding the FDA’s maximum recommendation of a safe level of 10 parts per million.
The California bill – called AB2066 – was introduced in the legislature last month and will have to go through a vote before going to a committee.
It will also need to pass another vote in the House, a committee stage and a vote in the Senate and get Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature before becoming law.
If it goes into effect, the bill would ban decaffeinated coffees made from the chemical in the state by 2027.
It is unclear whether the bill would also ban the sale of decaffeinated coffees prepared outside of the methylene chloride method.
But the National Coffee Association has raised concerns, calling it a “ban on decaffinated coffee.”
Its CEO, Bill Murray, said: “Banning decaf the European way would defy science and harm the health of Americans.
“The overwhelming weight of independent scientific evidence shows that European Method decaf consumption is safe and, furthermore, that European Method decaf consumption, like all coffee, is associated with a decreased risk of multiple cancers and other important health benefits. »
European method decaf is the name for the method of making decaffeinated coffee that uses this chemical. It represents the vast majority of decaffeinated coffees.
There are other options available, including those using carbon dioxide and water, but these take more time and are more expensive.
It is estimated that about 10% of Americans – or 26 million people – drink decaffeinated coffee every day.
California doesn’t produce much decaffeinated coffee, with the vast majority of U.S. supplies coming from Germany.
Coffee makers say any ban would lead to a shortage of decaffeinated coffee and higher prices for consumers.
The FDA is also reviewing a petition filed by the consumer group Environmental Defense Fund, which seeks to ban the use of methyl chloride in making decaffeinated coffee.
Eloise Gomez Reyes, a California Democrat, has proposed a bill banning the use of this chemical in making decaffeinated coffee.
The European Union and the FDA currently allow coffee to be made from methylene chloride.
But the FDA says its levels cannot exceed 10 parts per million in products.
No studies have yet shown a link between decaffeinated coffee and negative health effects, including cancer.
Previous studies have warned, however, that exposure to methyl chloride, even at low levels – although higher than that of decaffeinated coffee – can increase the risk of cancer.
Animal studies reported by the EPA have linked exposure to the chemical with a higher risk of liver and lung cancer.
A meta-analysis published in 2013 of more than 3,000 adults also found that participants had a higher risk of multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer.
The participants were adults who made camera film – which contains the chemical – and were regularly exposed to around 20 to 40 ppm by breathing contaminated air.
A separate meta-analysis in 2011 also pointed to a potential link between the chemical and brain, breast and liver cancer in the group.
A 2022 EPA review also warned that the chemical could cause other complications, including nervous system problems and developmental problems.
This was partly based on a mouse study that showed the chemical could cross the placenta and cause problems with bone development in the animals.
The CDC states online: “Methylene chloride is a colorless liquid that can harm the eyes, skin, liver, and heart.
“Exposure may cause drowsiness, dizziness, numbness, tingling in the limbs and nausea.” This can cause cancer.
They say workers exposed to paint, who work in metal cleaning or degreasing plants, or who work in the pharmaceutical sector are most at risk.
Decaffeinated coffee is favored by many consumers because it allows you to benefit from some of the benefits of coffee without suffering from the jitters or sleep disturbances caused by the caffeinated version.
Previous studies have suggested that these effects could include a lower risk of premature death, increased consumption of antioxidants, and even a lower risk of colon cancer.
Studies have also linked coffee consumption to multiple health benefits, including a lower risk of heart disease, which is believed to be linked to its caffeine content.
