Coffee+May+Come+with+a+Cancer+Warning+in+California

Coffee May Come With a Cancer Warning in California By: Jen Christensen Date: March 9, 2018

Summary: Californian coffee shops may have to warn customers of the existence of acrylamide that is created when coffee is roasted. This is on a list of chemicals that is considered to possibly cause cancer. “under the California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, also known as Proposition 65, businesses must give customers a "clear and reasonable warning" about the presence of agents that affect health” (Christensen). A recent lawsuit wants companies to pay fines and post warnings about the potential risks of drinking coffee. However, studies done on humans have found, "no statistically significant association between dietary acrylamide intake and various cancers" (Christensen).

Relation to Course: This relates the course because it related to toxic substances in terms of carcinogenic effects. They think some elements of the coffee may contain hazardous chemicals. This debate is over the toxicity of chemicals found in coffee. Depending on people’s coffee habits, this could be considered either acute exposure, or in my case since I drink coffee on a daily basis, chronic exposure (Miller, chapter 17).

My Opinion: I agree with Bill Murray, Starbucks CEO, and president, that the proven benefits of coffee outweigh needing to advertise a small possibility of cancerous effects, especially considering almost anything could cause cancer. The article even mentions that “drinking very hot liquids” may lead to cancer. Acrylamide is found in a variety of different products, and the National Cancer Institute, people are exposed to ‘substantially more acrylamide from tobacco smoke than from food” (Christensen). I think that if there are substantially high levels, that should be revealed to the public. But it can also be done in a smart way that is not plastered all over the place. I don’t think the focus should be on a small possibility of cancer-causing chemicals, but rather on the variety of health benefits.

Environmental Law: This relates to the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. This law prevented the manufacture, sale, or transportation of misbranded food because this issue came about because of coffee shops supposably not providing an adequate advertisement of toxins found in their coffee.

