UPDATE:

The judge in the Coffee Cancer Warning case is affirming his ruling. Monday, the Judge stated that all coffee sold in California must carry a cancer warning.

Judge Elihu Berle confirmed that Starbucks and other roasters have not proven the health benefits outweighed the risks of acrylamide, a carcinogen that’s a byproduct of the roasting process. Keurig, Starbucks, Peets and around 90 other coffee companies will have to display these warnings.

This is a major blow to any coffee lover out there right now, but as far as many are concerned – Coffee Is Cancelled! A California judge recently delivered a huge hit to the coffee industry by requiring that coffee retailers, even our beloved Starbucks, must include a cancer warning label for their products.

In a decision this past week, Judge Elihu Berle of Los Angeles, wrote that coffee companies have failed to show enough proof that acrylamide, a carcinogen, posed no threat. Acrylamide is a chemical that is produced during the coffee bean roasting process. The coffee industry claims that this chemical is present, but only at minimal levels, which they say are completely harmless. In the judge’s decision he wrote, “Defendants failed to satisfy their burden of proving by a preponderance of evidence that consumption of coffee confers a benefit to human health.”

The coffee industry made the argument that they should be exempt from the law because this is a natural process that occurs when cooking the coffee bean, and the process is necessary in order to make the beans flavorful. However, the Council for the Education and Research on Toxics disagrees and moved forward with this lawsuit against approximately 90 coffee retailers. This decision is considered a huge blow to the industry, and coffee retailers are not happy about this decision. William Murphy, the President of the National Coffee Association has stated,“Coffee has been shown, over and over again, to be a healthy beverage. This lawsuit has… confused consumers, and does nothing to improve public health.”

Starbucks and the other 90 coffee retailers who are defendants, have until April 10th to appeal the decision. It seems like every time consumers turn on the news, there is some new report of some food, beverage or medication that causes cancer; in some cities, water isn’t even safe to drink! Until, more positive news is released about this carcinogen and the brewing process – coffee is cancelled!