Social Question

flo's avatar

Is it common knowledge that coffee contains acrylamide?

Asked by flo (13313points) March 30th, 2018

Latest from California:
“California keeps a list of chemicals it considers possible causes of cancer. One of them is acrylamide, which is created when coffee beans are roasted. The chemical stays in the coffee you drink in what the court called a “high amount.””
https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/30/health/coffee-cancer-court-decision-warning-label-california/index.html

Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0

31 Answers

ragingloli's avatar

There is also cyanide in spinach.
I am sure lots of foods contain poisonous substances. It is all about the amount.

flo's avatar

@ragingloli But my question is about the coffee. If you ask lay people would you find they know?

By the way please post the source re. “I am sure *lot’s of foods contain poisonous substances.

Dutchess_III's avatar

No, of course not. Does everyone know that the active ingredient in a tomato is lycopene? Does everyone know that tomatoes are part of the deadly nightshade family? That’s why people need to quit their knee jerk panicking over things they don’t understand.

flo's avatar

I suppose all knowledge should be removed from the planet.

2davidc8's avatar

I think that most people would not know, or would even care, for that matter. Actually, lots of cooked foods contain acrylamide. Pizza and bread, for example. Certainly potato chips and French fries. Would people know that? You’d be surprised how many foods contain acrylamide.
@ragingloli is right. There are lots of naturally occurring toxins, poisons, even carcinogens, in fruits and veggies. Eating organic does not avoid these. Dr. Bruce Ames has studied and written extensively on this subject. I don’t have time to look up the information right now, but you might go ahead and Google ‘Bruce Ames’.

Soubresaut's avatar

I’m aware of it, mostly because of the California Prop 65 notices that appear in coffee shops I go to.

Mini rant: I wish those notices were required to give a little more detail (they appear in many places, and could be referring to any of hundreds of chemicals). Usually they just say: “This area contains chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer,” but then don’t tell you which chemicals, how carcinogenic, what quantity, what the chance of exposure is, etc. I like the idea of being informed, but the signs don’t usually give enough information for people to actually be informed.

2davidc8's avatar

Yes, I agree with @Soubresaut. I believe that the sign is posted at gas stations even. Gasoline probably causes cancer. And the signs are all over Home Depot.

Tropical_Willie's avatar

Arsenic in Rice

Mercury in Swordfish

Lead in some dried fruits

Cadmium is found in some chocolates

All are toxic in some concentrations.

janbb's avatar

Résumé
Razors pain you,
Rivers are damp,
Acids stain you,
And drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren’t lawful,
Nooses give,
Gas smells awful.
You might as well live.”

Dorothy Parker

JLeslie's avatar

I never thought about coffee as a possibility, but isn’t that the carcinogen from fried foods? Like deep fried, because of the high temperature.

Also, there are carcinogens in grilling meat, especially if you’re brushing it with certain sauces while grilling. Again, something with the high temperature, and this time the sugars from the meat or something creates a toxic chemical.

I wouldn’t be too worried about the coffee, unless you are driving a lot of it.

Darth_Algar's avatar

Everything is harmful if overindulged in. Even water will kill you (rather quickly too) if you drink too much of it.

Dutchess_III's avatar

Don’t forget Dihydrogen Monoxide. 100% of people who come into contact with it, DIES.

Dutchess_III's avatar

*dies

Everyone who comes into contact with it die….?

Dutchess_III's avatar

I’m good friends with my former English teacher on FB. I’ll ask her.

flo's avatar

@Soubresaut ,” but then don’t tell you which chemicals, how carcinogenic, what quantity, what the chance of exposure is, etc. I like the idea of being informed, but the signs don’t usually give enough information for people to actually be informed”
The people wo oppose Prop 65 etc, don’ want even a hint f a mention of the word Acrylamide on te label or in conversation etc.
Once the get the label on it it’s upto the public to research it don’t you think? How much can the put on the label afterall.

Dutchess_III's avatar

I was correct, according to my old English teacher, @ragingloli. And YOU WERE WRONG! HA HA HA HA!

ragingloli's avatar

again, did you ask her about “everyone”, or “100 % of people”?

Dutchess_III's avatar

I’ll ask again. I’ll allow as you may be right. BRB.

Dutchess_III's avatar

YOU WERE RIGHT AND I WAS WRONG RAGGY!!

janbb's avatar

Why an I not surprised?

ragingloli's avatar

Ha! Victorious once more.

flo's avatar

So, how would people know to not overindulge if they have no knowledge (if it’s not on the label) that product x has lead, or Acrylamide or…?
By the way the fact that other things have Acrylamide doesn’t mean it’s ok, or ideal to not know that it’s in coffee too.

flo's avatar

By the way, a few days ago I didn’t get a notification for @Dutchess_III‘s answer, and today on one of my OPs.

Dutchess_III's avatar

It’s not that big of a deal. That’s why it’s not on the label. It’s also in these foods:

Grain-based coffee substitutes 5.399 ppm
Potato chips 9270 ppb
French fries 1.325 ppm
Dehydrated onion soup mix 1.184 ppm
Toasted wheat cereal 1.057 ppm
Cookies 0.995 ppm
Cocoa 0.909 ppm

flo's avatar

Responded to in my last post.
If it is not that big of a deal why would it be in other sources except the label where people can read and decide for themselves if it is that big of a deal or not for them or not the way thy do re. the amount of salt saturated fat etc.?

Dutchess_III's avatar

Salt and saturated fat is something they can wrap their brains around. When you start talking chemical compounds (which both saturated fat and salt are chemical compounds, but they’re so common we have people names for them) people start freaking out.

flo's avatar

So, people should only be informed about things they already know about, and they can easily wrap their heads around. When you try to search (Google or ask someone) it/the person you’re asking should first decide that you’re not going to freak out before it/they give/s you the search results/tell you about it. Wikepedia should have a freaker or not freaker test before it allows us to read….

flo's avatar

I’m not trying to be funny.

Answer this question

Login

or

Join

to answer.
Your answer will be saved while you login or join.

Have a question? Ask Fluther!

What do you know more about?
or
Knowledge Networking @ Fluther