What now, you ask?
It's about coffee. You see, if pending litigation is upheld, coffee sold in California will require a warning label stating that consuming coffee may cause cancer.
Yep. Cancer.
You see, roasted coffee beans contain acrylamide, a natural occurring substance. As stated in this New York Times opinion piece written by Dr. Aaron E. Carroll, MD, (who disagrees with a need for a coffee cancer warning), acrylamide is "a chemical that is made almost any time you cook starches at temperatures above 250 degrees Fahrenheit. You can make acrylamide from frying, baking, broiling or roasting — essentially anything that isn’t boiling or microwaving."
French fries, coffee beans, and your morning toast all contain acrylamide. In fact, according to Dr. Carroll's analysis, "acrylamide is present in about 40% of the calories consumed by people in the United States."
Even the American Cancer Society disagrees with the coffee warning label requirement!
A group who believes acrylamide is cancer causing filed the lawsuit to require a cancer warning label on coffee sold in California. In spite of the fact that the American Cancer Society believes that acrylamide consumption does not pose an increased risk of cancer, if a recent court ruling stands, the warning notice will be required on coffee.
Just another warning notice that Californians will see and shrug off. More hassles for businesses, restaurants, and coffee shops that sell coffee products.
So you see, according to the Coffee Causes Cancer plaintiffs, since I had coffee and homemade sourdough toast for breakfast this morning, and another slice of toast with lunch, I am really ... really ... screwed!
Just another Crazy in California moment. What's next? A warning label on my toaster?
About Mary Rae Fouts, EA
Mary Rae Fouts, EA provides tax, insurance consulting, and expert witness services to clients who have technical or complex concerns. She will never forgo her morning coffee and toast. Never, ever, ever. For more information visit FoutsFinancialGroup.com.
Mary Rae Fouts