A Judge in California recently ruled that coffee companies will need to start advertising a warning to customers that there are possible cancer concerns related to their purchase.

Specifically, it’s over concerns for a chemical that’s known as acrylamide, that they want to warn customers about. It’s believed by some to be a carcinogen that might cause cancer and that’s the reason for the push for cancer warnings on coffee.

However, there are many within the scientific community who insist that there isn’t anything to worry about. And not everyone believes that by drinking coffee, it’s going to promote an increased risk of cancer; because of the controversial acrylamide ingredient.

Critics suggest that in order to reach carcinogenic levels, that someone would need to drink hundreds of cups of coffee in a single day; to pose any threat.

There are a variety of studies that suggest the contrary, that there are health benefits that can be reaped from consuming coffee.

It’s Not Just Coffee…

You can find this chemical in other foods that are roasted or starchy; cooked at high temperatures. The acrylamide is a byproduct of the roasting process.

The new changes don’t apply to everyone. In other words, it isn’t every coffee company that will need to comply with the new rules and advertise the cancer warnings in the state of California. It’s only directed at those coffee companies with 10 employees or more. Because if there are 9 employees, there apparently won’t be the same cancer concerns.

For those companies with more than 10+ employees, they are going to need to provide clear warnings that don’t intentionally expose anyone unwillingly to this chemical. For those who fail to do so, they could face a fine of $2,500 or more per person.

Is this decision likely to impact many coffee drinkers, to the point that Starbucks and other coffee companies should be worried?

Not likely. After all, cigarettes have had their cancer warnings posted for decades and yet there are still millions of people who smoke. Coffee drinkers might see some higher prices however, when those coffee businesses are forced to make changes to their packaging. As well, they’ll also ultimately endure the cost of those businesses having to settle multi-million dollar lawsuits over this controversial chemical.

The new ruling came as a result from a lawsuit that was launched almost a decade ago. That lawsuit had specifically named Starbucks, Costco, and a variety of other coffee businesses. And in that ruling, the judge said that those coffee companies had failed to prove that the chemical didn’t pose any health risk or cancer threat.

The law group who was representing the non-profit that launched the coffee lawsuit, has been in lawsuits against restaurants like Burger King and McDonald’s, as well as chip companies like Frito-Lay and Kettle Foods, for the same thing; forcing them to put labels on their food products and pay penalties to the state because of concerns over that chemical.

After all, this chemical is found in many different food products. So there is clearly a lot of money for them to make.

What business or food product might they go after next?

The government is the one placing the responsibility on the coffee makers and other businesses to prove that there is no cancer risk from the chemical.

And thus far, they’ve refused to accept the defendants arguments in trying to determine the level of risk that might be associated with exposure to the acrylamide chemical.

The refusal works out well for them, because they’re going to be profiting from the settlements when those businesses are required to pay fines to the state. Safety and health, or money? Even the American Council on Science and Health has responded to the news, insinuating that the lawsuits might just be a simple attempt to make a lot of money.

The firm behind the fight insists that they're only concerned that this chemical is in much of the food that we eat, and it's because they care so much that they're motivated to pursue these legal battles.

Pics:
Pixabay
giphy

The information that is posted above is not intended to be used as any substitute for professional medical advice, or diagnosis or treatment. The above is posted for informational purposes only.

Sources:
https://www.livescience.com/62177-california-coffee-cancer-warning.html
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2018/mar/30/its-official-coffee-causes-cancer-except-when-it-doesnt
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/the-conversation/sd-coffee-cancer-causing-california-20180329-htmlstory.html
https://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2018/04/01/big-governments-go-after-coffee-bad-news-for-starbucks/#363d6ddf7c9f
http://fox8.com/2018/03/30/california-judge-rules-that-starbucks-other-coffee-sellers-to-post-cancer-warning/
https://www.authoritydiet.com/acrylamide-coffee-cancer-heart-disease-risk/

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