Proposed CA Bill Would Ban Methylene Chloride From Decaf Coffee Production

Decaffeinated coffee is a popular choice among consumers, but health experts and consumer transparency advocates are warning that the chemical used to remove caffeine is a known carcinogen. Methylene chloride, a colorless liquid, has been banned in certain manufacturing and industrial processes but not in food or drinks. California Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes, author of Assembly Bill 2066, believes that decaffeination companies use this chemical to remove caffeine. The National Coffee Association claims the proposed ban is unjustified and unnecessary, citing no evidence of any health risk and decades of independent scientific evidence supporting the European Method decaf as associated with reduced risk of multiple cancers and chronic diseases.

Consumer transparency groups like the Clean Label Project argue that the use of methylene chloride is problematic because over 70% of decaf drinkers are pregnant women or people with health conditions. Health experts emphasize the importance of being aware of what you consume to help ward off future health issues. If the methylene chloride ban becomes law in California, it will go into effect in January 2027.

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