A Cancer Warning On Your Starbucks Cup? Maybe So.

By: Bill McCool

For Californians, the next time they pop into a Starbucks for that much-needed venti red eye, they might be in for a surprise as they could potentially see a warning label stating that their morning fix can cause cancer.

A non-profit group called the Council for Education and Research on Toxics recently brewed up some serious trouble for coffee retailers by suing them because they have not adequately disclosed the supposed risks that come from drinking a cup of java.

The toxic component in question is acrylamide, a chemical that’s produced when coffee beans are roasted. Small quantities can also be found in french fries, breakfast cereals, and baby food. However, evidence pointing to acrylamide’s harmful effects is likely inconclusive as it has only been found through inhalation in industrial settings rather than by its consumption.

California’s Proposition 65, or the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, was passed in 1986 and it requires that businesses must list all toxic and carcinogenic chemicals in a product that could cause cancer or reproductive issues. Any business that chooses to ignore this regulation could face stiff fines.

In recent years, coffee has been said to have many positive health benefits as it’s loaded with antioxidants and could perhaps stave off Alzheimer’s Disease. However, this recent verdict could have dire implications for the industry as a whole as consumers might reconsider their latte if it’s stickered with labels warning of cancer. Ultimately, the non-profit’s goal is to have acrylamide removed from coffee, similar to when the California Attorney General successfully sued potato chip manufacturers back in 2008  to reduce the harmful chemical.

So will California consumers see labels on their Starbucks cups warning them of potential cancers risks in the coffee they consume? While some coffee retailers have already settled with the non-profit group, others like Starbucks have until April 10th to provide reasonable evidence detailing coffee’s benefits in order to overturn the judge’s decision.

While labeling remains a likely possibility for California’s coffee shops, you could tell us coffee was made from orphan tears, and we’d still drink two pots of it every day.

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Bill McCool

Bill McCool is a freelance writer based out of Los Angeles. Though new to the world of design, he has always been a storyteller by trade and he seeks to inspire and cultivate a sense of awe with the work and artists he profiles. When he’s not winning over his daughters with the art of the Dad joke, he is usually working on a pilot, watching the Phillies, or cooking an elaborate meal for his wife.