FDA Takes a Stand in Coffee Controversy

November 12, 2018
Ann Grimaldi

If information about the health effects of drinking coffee and the need to issue Proposition 65 warnings for acrylamide in coffee seem paradoxical, that’s because different regulatory authorities have expressed opposing views about whether acrylamide is a carcinogen that warrants a warning. Most recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a statement objecting to the court decision that required cancer warnings to be placed on coffee products. The FDA’s primary concern was that consumers could be misled about the health effects of ingesting coffee.

The FDA’s statement comes in direct response to a California court ruling requiring coffee sold in California to display cancer warnings due to the presence of acrylamide in coffee beverages. Acrylamide forms as a result of high temperature cooking and is present in many popular foods. When coffee beans are roasted, acrylamide is produced as a byproduct of the roasting process. In elevated doses, acrylamide has been linked to cancer in animals. However, various scientific studies, including a report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), have concluded that consuming coffee does not pose a significant risk of cancer in humans.

In a surprising action following the court ruling, OEHHA publicly supported the view that consuming coffees poses no significant risk of cancer and proposed a new regulation that would preclude any need for Proposition 65 cancer warning on coffee products. The agency cited the IARC study in support of its conclusion that “coffee consumption is not classifiable as to its overall carcinogenicity” and is in fact believed to reduce the risk of certain cancers in humans.

The FDA’s letter calls for a regulation to effectively overturn the court’s ruling. The agency took a position in this matter based on its concern that the court’s action could result in a false statement attaching to food labels. The FDA emphasized that the requirement to place Proposition 65 warnings on coffee could be seriously misleading to consumers because it conflicts with current research (which has been reviewed by the FDA) on the effects of coffee. Such research supports the notion that coffee may actually have substantial health benefits. Moreover, the FDA reiterated that state law cannot impose a requirement that contravenes federal law and deceptive labeling violates the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Grimaldi Law Offices has been advising clients for over 20 years on chemical and product law. For knowledgeable advice and in-depth analysis on your Proposition 65 compliance obligations, contact Grimaldi Law Offices at (415) 463-5186 or email us at [email protected].

Ann Grimaldi

Ms. Grimaldi maintains a diverse environmental law practice focusing on chemical and product regulation and litigation defense. Her practice areas include Proposition 65, California's Safer Consumer Products Regulations, California's Rigid Plastic Packaging Container Act and the federal Toxic Substances Control Act. Ms. Grimaldi graduated from the University of California Hastings College of the Law magna cum laude and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Bacteriology from University of California, Davis. Prior to attending law school, she worked as a research assistant in laboratories at the University of California, San Francisco Cancer Research Institute and at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine.