FDA Considers Banning Chemical in Decaf Coffee Over Cancer Concerns

The FDA is currently looking into a potential ban on a chemical used in decaf coffee amid rising concerns about its cancer risk implications.

Food Navigator reports that methylene chloride, the chemical in question, is commonly utilized in major coffee chains such as Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts for decaffeination purposes.

FDA Assessing Petitions Calling for Decaf Ban

Campaigners have brought attention to the issue, citing evidence linking methylene chloride to cancer in animal studies. They point to a 1958 regulation known as the Delaney Clause, which prohibits food additives shown to induce cancer in animals or humans.

The FDA is now assessing a petition from the Environmental Defense Fund urging the ban of decaf coffee produced using methylene chloride. The petition is also calling for a ban on other known carcinogens such as benzene, ethylene dichloride, and trichloroethylene.

If the FDA moves forward with the ban, it could potentially impact the 26 million decaf coffee consumers in the United States. This includes those who rely on decaf for its claimed benefits, such as heart health and longevity boosts.

(Photo : Bryan Thomas/Getty Images)

BROOKLYN, NY - FEBRUARY 22: A customer carries a cup of coffee to her table at Colson Patisserie on February 22, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. A recently released study found that drinking two cups of coffee a day decreases one's chance of developing liver cirrhosis by 44 percent.

The Debate on the Decaf Ban

Studies have shown associations between methylene chloride exposure and cancer risks in both animals and humans. Research on rodents exposed to the chemical in the air demonstrated tumor development in the lungs and liver.

Additionally, a study involving over 3,000 adults found a higher risk of multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, among those exposed to methylene chloride.

California is also considering a potential ban on decaffeinated coffee produced using methylene chloride, mirroring concerns expressed by activists. However, manufacturers counter that the European Method, which employs methylene chloride, is more cost-effective and efficient than alternative decaffeination methods.

The National Coffee Association cautions against potential shortages of decaffeinated coffee if the bans are enforced without substantial evidence of harm. Meanwhile, the EPA proposed restrictions on "most uses" of methylene chloride in 2023 due to health concerns, although its regulated application in foods falls under the FDA's jurisdiction.

Despite calls for bans, certain groups oppose such measures, contending that the European Method of decaffeination meets FDA safety standards. They highlight the numerous health benefits attributed to decaffeinated coffee consumption, including a reduced risk of various cancers and chronic diseases.

The FDA has established a safety threshold for methylene chloride in decaf coffee at 10 parts per million. However, the agency is under pressure to reevaluate the chemical's safety in light of accumulating evidence linking it to cancer risks.

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