This post is brought to you by Clean Label Project.
Like many women, when I was expecting I switched my coffee to decaf. I wanted to make sure that I was preventing my babies from ingesting anything that could be harmful to them, so among other things I avoided caffeine. But what I didn’t know was that many decaf coffee brands contain something you’d never expect- methylene chloride, the active ingredient in paint strippers!
Not all decaf brands have this chemical present, but considering that decaf coffee is most often consumed by those who are intentionally opting for fewer chemicals- like pregnant women, the elderly, and people with heart disease- it’s so important to know that this is present so you can make the right choice for you.
So how exactly does this chemical wind up in decaf coffee? Well when coffee is decaffeinated, it goes through one of two processes: either a Water-based Decaf Process or a Chemical-based Decaf Process {see the images above for more details on those}. Decaf coffees that come about through the Chemical-based Decaf Process can wind up in the final product.
There are many popular brands that contain it, but also many that don’t, so it’s really important to know which ones are which so you can make an informed decision. Unfortunately, the FDA currently allows methylene chloride to be present in decaf coffee- and they don’t require brands to disclose that it’s there.
What is the Clean Label Project?
The Clean Label Project is a movement with a mission to raise awareness about the presence of potentially dangerous environmental contaminants and toxins in everyday consumer products, like decaf coffee. They are pushing for brands containing these harmful toxins to stop including misleading claims on their products- in fact, they have filed lawsuits against brands that have methylene chloride in them and yet have labels indicating that their products are “pure and natural”.
Having claims like “natural” or “pure” on a product that’s been treated with chemicals and still has them in the finished product is not only misleading but potentially dangerous. Many consumers who opt for decaf do so because they are trying to take steps to avoid chemicals just like methylene chloride, and without labels {and especially with misleading labels} they have no reason to think it could be present. And yet when the Clean Label Project tested 25 popular brands, TEN of them tested positive!
Unfortunately, change won’t come unless consumers demand it, and it’s time for us to do just that. The Clean Label Project is calling for consumers to demand that brands disclose this information so that consumers- especially those going out of their way to make a positive health choice- know exactly what to expect with their coffee.
So what can you do to help #DetoxYourDecaf?
Make sure to always read the labels of the brand you’re choosing, and look for solvent-free, chemical-free, Swiss-water, or certified organic on the label.
You can also contact your favorite brand to talk about their decaf process, which will help you determine if your coffee is at risk of containing methylene chloride.
Finally, if you’re drinking decaf because of a health condition, age, or pregnancy, be sure to talk to your doctor about your possible exposure to methylene chloride to see if there is any cause for concern.
What’s next?
It’s clear that something needs to be done- but what? The Clean Label Project has put together this handy cheat sheet to help consumers like you and me to get started advocating for this change. Click the image above for the phone number for many of your favorite coffee brands. If your favorite decaf coffee brand was found to have methylene chloride in it, call and make your voice heard.
Be sure to check the image above to see if methylene chloride was present in their coffee- many of these brands on the list are totally in the clear and instead deserve a phone call to say thank you!
Another step you can take to make sure you avoid methylene chloride in your coffee is to check the label. Remember, the labels won’t tell you it’s there- that’s kind of the whole point. BUT if you see “solvent-free”, “chemical-free”, “Swiss-water”, or “certified organic” you’re good to go!
Are you surprised to hear that methylene chloride can be found in decaf coffee?
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