The Hidden Danger Lurking in Decaf Coffee Unveiled by Experts
For all the decaf coffee lovers out there, brace yourselves for some unsettling news. It appears that your beloved less-buzzy beverage may contain a chemical that could potentially be linked to cancer, as disclosed by a report from CNN. The culprit in question is methylene chloride, a substance utilized by coffee roasters to strip caffeine from coffee beans. Research has unveiled that even short-term exposure to this chemical can be detrimental to your central nervous system. Prolonged contact with methylene chloride could escalate the risk of developing liver and lung cancers, as well as causing general liver impairment.
In a surprising twist, the US Food and Drug Administration currently permits the use of methylene chloride in the production of decaffeinated coffee. Alarming, right? Health and environmental advocates, including the likes of the Environmental Defense Fund and Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, took a stand against this practice. Last year, they lodged a petition with the FDA, urging them to prohibit the use of methylene chloride in the decaf coffee manufacturing process. The existing federal regulation permits the utilization of methylene chloride as a solvent, as long as it does not surpass “10 parts per million in decaffeinated roasted coffee and in decaffeinated soluble coffee extract.”
Maria Doa, the senior director of chemical policy at the Environmental Defense Fund, criticized this regulation as outdated and unnecessary. She asserted to CNN that while the levels of methylene chloride might be relatively low, the deployment of safer decaffeination methods is both available and in use. Safer alternatives, such as utilizing carbon dioxide or the Swiss Water Process, exist that do not require the use of methylene chloride. The Swiss Water Process involves soaking the beans in warm water and employing organic solvents instead of the potentially harmful chemical.
As the FDA deliberates on the future of methylene chloride in decaf coffee production, Doa recommended that coffee aficionados opt for organic beans or those processed through the Swiss Water Process. It seems that ensuring a safer cup of decaf might just involve a little extra diligence in selecting beans that guarantee a cleaner and healthier brew. So, next time you’re in the mood for a steaming mug of decaf, keep an eye out for those organic or Swiss Water Process labels – your health might just thank you for it.
