Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Nicholas Florko
Published on 2024-03-28 08:30:16
Consumer health advocates are urging the Food and Drug Administration to ban methylene chloride, a chemical used in decaffeinating coffee beans, citing its potential cancer-causing effects on rodents. This move has sparked a debate over the future of decaf coffee, as major coffee companies like Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts rely on this chemical for decaffeination.
The advocacy group Clean Label Project has pointed out that methylene chloride, previously used as a paint stripper, is widely used in the U.S. coffee industry. Despite being nearly entirely removed during the decaffeination process, concerns about its carcinogenic properties have led to calls for a ban under the Delaney Clause, a provision that mandates the FDA to ban additives found to induce cancer in animals.
The FDA’s enforcement of the Delaney Clause has been a point of contention for the food industry, as it has led to the banning of substances deemed safe under intended conditions of use. In the case of methylene chloride, the chemical is undetectable in brewed decaf coffee, raising questions about the necessity of a ban.
Proponents of the ban argue that there are safer alternatives for decaffeinating coffee, even though they may be more expensive and less effective. The Environmental Defense Fund, leading the petition for the ban, emphasizes the potential health risks posed by methylene chloride to workers in coffee factories.
On the other hand, the coffee industry defends the use of methylene chloride, citing its effectiveness in producing high-quality decaf coffee favored by coffee enthusiasts. They argue that the chemical is essential for removing caffeine from green coffee beans.
While the debate continues, it highlights a broader trend of advocacy groups pressuring regulatory agencies to scrutinize potentially harmful food additives. The EDF has spearheaded efforts to challenge existing additives through petitions traditionally used to introduce new additives into the food supply.
The resurgence in efforts to regulate food additives underscores the complexity of balancing consumer safety with industry interests. As the FDA grapples with the decision on methylene chloride, the outcome will likely have implications for the future of decaf coffee production and the broader landscape of food safety regulation.
