Are There Chemicals in Your Decaffeinated Coffee?

Methylene Chloride is an active ingredient in paint stripper that was recently banned by the EPA. The FDA currently allows methylene chloride to be used in some coffee decaffeination processes and brands are not required to disclose the decaffeination process on their label.

There is an alternative water-based process that doesn’t require chemicals, but many major brands continue to use the chemical process anyway.

What is troubling is that many vulnerable populations like pregnant women, the elderly, and people with heart disease are regular decaf consumers.

Consumers deserve to know how their decaf is made and if they are getting chemicals in their coffee.

Clean Label Project investigated to see if methylene chloride was showing up in the decaf coffee products that people purchase.

CHEMICAL PROCESS

Many coffee manufacturers still use chemicals like methylene chloride – commonly used in paint removers – to strip away caffeine.

Solvent-based decaffeination

uses chemicals or carbon dioxide.

Brands don’t have to disclose their process on the label. Demand that they do. #DetoxYourDecaf

WATER-BASED PROCESS

We don’t need chemicals to drink decaffeinated coffee!

Water-based decaffeination processes

use water and rely on time and temperature.

Look for solvent-free, chemical-free, Swiss-water, or certified organic labeled decaf.

THE PROBLEM

Methylene Chloride is an active ingredient in paint stripper that was recently banned by the EPA. However, the FDA currently allows methylene chloride to be used in the coffee decaffeination process and brands are not even required to disclose the decaffeination process on their label.

Brands Tested Include:

DETECTED

AMAZONFRESH

Decaffeinated Colombia

CAFÉ BUSTELO

Decaffeinated Café Molido

GEVALIA KAFFE

Decaffeinated House Blend

GREAT VALUE

Decaffeinated Classic Roast

GREEN MOUNTAIN COFFEE ROASTERS

Decaffeinated Breakfast Blend

KIRKLAND SIGNATURE

Decaffeinated Dark Roast

KROGER

Decaffeinated Classic

MAXWELL HOUSE

Decaffeinated The Original Roast

PEET’S COFFEE

Decaffeinated House Blend

SEATTLE’S BEST

Decaffeinated Portside Blend

NOT DETECTED

ALLEGRO COFEE

Decaffeinated Organic French Roast

ARCHER FARMS

Decaffeinated House Blend

CARIBOU COFFEE

Decaffeinated Caribou Blend

COMMUNITY COFFFEE

Decaffeinated Café Special

DAZBOG COFFEE

Decaffeinated French Roast

DUNKIN’ DONUTS

Decaffeinated Medium Roast

FOLGERS

Decaffeinated Classic

ILLY

Decaffeinated Illy Blend

KICKING HORSE COFFEE

Decaffeinated Dark

NESCAFÉ

Decaffeinated House Blend

PEET’S COFFEE

Decaffeinated Major Dickason’s Blend

STARBUCKS

Decaffeinated House Blend + Decaffeinated Caffè Verona

THE ORGANIC COFFEE CO.

Decaffeinated Organic Gorilla

TIM HORTONS

Decaffeinated Medium Roast

HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR CHEMICAL-FREE DECAFFEINATED COFFEE

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Read the labels

Look for claims on product packaging such as solvent-free, chemical-free, Swiss-water, or certified organic. These decaffeination approaches don’t use harsh chemicals.

Use your voice

Contact your favorite decaf brand via email, social media, or phone (we’ve provided numbers to popular brands) to ask for information about their decaffeination process.

Speak to your doctor

If you’re concerned about your exposure to methylene chloride or have questions about your caffeine exposure, speak with your doctor.

Join the Movement

Have your opinion heard!
Reach out to brands and tell them you expect better or let them know you appreciate them for choosing a chemical-free decaffeination process.

Is your favorite product missing from our list?
Contact the brand and demand to know more about their decaffeination process

Allegro Coffee

303-444-4844

Archer Farms (Target)

800-440-0680

Caribou Coffee

1-888-227-4268

Community Coffee

800-884-5282

DAZBOG Coffee

1-888-932-9264

Dunkin' Donuts

800-447-0013

Folgers

800-937-9745

Illy

1-877-469-4559

Kicking Horse Coffee

1-888-287-5282

Nescafe

800-637-8531

Peet's Coffee

800-999-2132

Starbucks

800-782-7282

The Organic Coffee Co.

800-829-1300

Tim Hortons

1-888-601-1616

Kirkland (Costco)

800-774-2678

Maxwell House

800-432-6333

Peet's Coffee

800-999-2132

Seattle's Best

800-611-7793

AmazonFresh (Amazon)

1-888-280-4331

Café Bustelo

800-990-9039

Gevalia Kaffe

800-438-2542

Great Value (Amazon)

800-925-6278

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters

1-866-901-2739

Kroger

800-576-4377

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