Contributor Post Created with Sketch. Recommended by Ricochet Members Created with Sketch. Keep Your Hands Off My Coffee!

 

One of the smartest decisions that my husband and I ever made was leaving California more than 10 years ago. The state is once again trying to make an obscene intrusion on the lives of Californians, and they are truly insane this time. (Yes, I know they’ve gone insane before, but this one is, for this coffee drinker, over the top.)

According to a WSJ article, California is once again trying to terrify its residents with a cancer fear — for coffee. You see, coffee has acrylamide, a flavorless chemical produced during the roasting process:

Acrylamide is one of more than 900 chemicals on a list of those known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. Businesses must warn about the presence of any of the chemicals under the law, known as Proposition 65.

They don’t mention that this chemical also appears in many baked and fried foods, such as potato chips, bread, and French fries.

A state judge in Los Angeles is supposed to rule in the next few months whether coffee will be labeled a carcinogen.

A retired oncologist in Orange County, CA, Warren Fong, had this to say:

So the only thing safe is boiled or steamed food? That’s ridiculous. You don’t scream warnings at people when the risk is really low and can’t change behaviors.

Ya think?

There are 76 comments.

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  1. OkieSailor Member
    OkieSailorJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Susan Quinn: You don’t scream warnings at people when the risk is really low and can’t change behaviors.

    Unless of course you want to create a large number of non-thinking zombies who cower while whimpering that the only hope is the State rescuing them from certain destruction. Could it be that simple?

    • #1
    • January 25, 2018, at 10:32 AM PST
    • 11 likes
  2. OkieSailor Member
    OkieSailorJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Warning everything in life will kill you, eventually.

    And just in case you don’t know @Susan Quinn, I heartily agree with your sentiments about both coffee and California.

    • #2
    • January 25, 2018, at 10:34 AM PST
    • 2 likes
  3. Profile Photo Member

    You might have left California too early as those leaving now are getting the benefit of the real estate bubble. My son’s closest friend and neighbor sold and moved to Atlanta last year. They bought a big house on a golf course for cash with their equity from the smaller house in Orange County. Timing, of course, is always a problem with bubbles. My son and his wife are talking about where they will retire. It is NOT in California.

    We are quite happy in Tucson but go back to see family. We were there last weekend and I have become a country mouse. The traffic was worse than I can remember. Glad to get back to Tucson where a traffic jam is ten cars at a stoplight. The city is just big enough to have a good opera, which is my most serious criterion.

    • #3
    • January 25, 2018, at 10:35 AM PST
    • 5 likes
  4. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn

    OkieSailor (View Comment):
    Warning everything in life will kill you, eventually.

    And just in case you don’t know @Susan Quinn, I heartily agree with your sentiments about both coffee and California.

    Good man, you are, Okie! It angers me that life can be challenging enough, and the state has to add to it with their idiocy. Sigh.

    • #4
    • January 25, 2018, at 10:37 AM PST
    • 2 likes
  5. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn

    Mike-K (View Comment):
    We are quite happy in Tucson but go back to see family. We were there last weekend and I have become a country mouse. The traffic was worse than I can remember. Glad to get back to Tucson where a traffic jam is ten cars at a stoplight. The city is just big enough to have a good opera, which is my most serious criterion.

    We did very well when we left, CA, on selling our house, Mike. That bubble burst immediately after we left. Tucson sounds lovely; we thought about AZ, but we had relatives here in FL.

    • #5
    • January 25, 2018, at 10:39 AM PST
    • Like
  6. Brian Watt Member
    Brian WattJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    To paraphrase Bogart, “There are certain beverages I’d advise you not to label as dangerous.”

    • #6
    • January 25, 2018, at 10:40 AM PST
    • 9 likes
  7. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn

    Brian Watt (View Comment):
    To paraphrase Bogart, “There are certain beverages I’d advise you not to label as dangerous.”

    Oh Brian, I’m so sorry–you live in CA, don’t you? Watch out for the coffee–it’ll kill ya.

    • #7
    • January 25, 2018, at 10:42 AM PST
    • 2 likes
  8. Roberto, Crusty Old Timer LLC Member
    Roberto, Crusty Old Timer LLCJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    This would be the most California sign ever.

    • #8
    • January 25, 2018, at 10:54 AM PST
    • 18 likes
  9. Brian Watt Member
    Brian WattJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Brian Watt (View Comment):
    To paraphrase Bogart, “There are certain beverages I’d advise you not to label as dangerous.”

    Oh Brian, I’m so sorry–you live in CA, don’t you? Watch out for the coffee–it’ll kill ya.

    Actually, whatever doesn’t kill me, makes me stronger. (I’ve got a million clichés at my fingertips). On my second cup this morning. Yeah, baby, yeah!

    You should know that coffee has an unusual effect with me. When I worked at UCLA, there was a coffee house a few paces away from the office where I worked. At around 3pm when I would get the after-lunch doldrums, I would walk to the coffee house and order a Cappuccino Royale. In short order, I became quite animated and entertaining and apparently a bit disruptive, to the point that my colleagues would try to prevent me from venturing forth to said coffee house at the appointed hour. Go figure. Some people just don’t know how to enjoy life.

    • #9
    • January 25, 2018, at 10:58 AM PST
    • 6 likes
  10. Dr. Bastiat Member

    If you drop the murders in 5 of our major cities, the US has the longest life span in the world. We’re doing ok. For Pete’s sake…

    • #10
    • January 25, 2018, at 10:58 AM PST
    • 7 likes
  11. Joe P Member

    I visited the USS Iowa museum in Los Angeles several years ago. Right outside the window where you pay for a ticket is a sign indicating that the battleship has substances in it that may cause cancer. You know, as if people are going to try to put the battleship’s hull in their mouth and eat it.

    It’s another planet, California.

    • #11
    • January 25, 2018, at 11:06 AM PST
    • 12 likes
  12. DrewInEastHillAutonomousZone Coolidge

    You don’t scream warnings at people when the risk is really low and can’t change behaviors.

    But they want to change behaviors. They always want to change behaviors.

    • #12
    • January 25, 2018, at 11:08 AM PST
    • 6 likes
  13. Kozak Member
    KozakJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Mike-K (View Comment):
    You might have left California too early as those leaving now are getting the benefit of the real estate bubble. My son’s closest friend and neighbor sold and moved to Atlanta last year. They bought a big house on a golf course for cash with their equity from the smaller house in Orange County. Timing, of course, is always a problem with bubbles. My son and his wife are talking about where they will retire. It is NOT in California.

    We are quite happy in Tucson but go back to see family. We were there last weekend and I have become a country mouse. The traffic was worse than I can remember. Glad to get back to Tucson where a traffic jam is ten cars at a stoplight. The city is just big enough to have a good opera, which is my most serious criterion.

    I am one of those rare people who lost money buying a house in California. We moved there in 90, left in 97 during a recession. That said, all the money in the world would not have made it worth my while to stay in that loony bin while raising my kids.

    • #13
    • January 25, 2018, at 11:25 AM PST
    • 5 likes
  14. C. U. Douglas Thatcher
    C. U. DouglasJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Didn’t California try to get phones labelled as potentially cancer causing, because there were rumors that cell phones caused brain cancer or something like that?

    • #14
    • January 25, 2018, at 11:34 AM PST
    • 1 like
  15. rico Inactive

    …from my cold dead cancerous hands.

    • #15
    • January 25, 2018, at 11:36 AM PST
    • 2 likes
  16. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn

    Roberto the Weary (View Comment):
    This would be the most California sign ever.

    As my mother’s friend used to say, “That is too precious–haha!

    • #16
    • January 25, 2018, at 12:01 PM PST
    • 1 like
  17. dajoho Member

    • #17
    • January 25, 2018, at 12:03 PM PST
    • 6 likes
  18. Front Seat Cat Member

    There’s a headline on Drudge that said California is thinking (or may have) of passing a $1000 fine to any waiter that offers a plastic straw – is it fake news, cause that one really hurt my head?? If not, then yes, it’s time for them to secede – they’ll be Venezuela in no time….

    • #18
    • January 25, 2018, at 12:10 PM PST
    • 2 likes
  19. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn

    Joe P (View Comment):
    . You know, as if people are going to try to put the battleship’s hull in their mouth and eat it.

    It’s another planet, California.

    Oh, you crack me up, @joep!

    • #19
    • January 25, 2018, at 12:10 PM PST
    • 1 like
  20. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn

    C. U. Douglas (View Comment):
    Didn’t California try to get phones labelled as potentially cancer causing, because there were rumors that cell phones caused brain cancer or something like that?

    Absolutely! Holding that sucker up to your ear would mangle your brain! I had some very concerned, uh, friends.

    • #20
    • January 25, 2018, at 12:13 PM PST
    • 1 like
  21. Valiuth Member
    ValiuthJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Saying the risk is really low actually only fuels the problem because it implies there is a risk. The reality is that there is no risk. I doubt any significant study can show an increased risk of cancer from whatever trace amounts of acrylamide can be found in coffee. If people can’t possibly learn to under stand the concept of dose dependence then they will forever have to live in fear of everything. Because most things can kill you in sufficient quantity.

    • #21
    • January 25, 2018, at 12:19 PM PST
    • 8 likes
  22. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn

    Valiuth (View Comment):
    Saying the risk is really low actually only fuels the problem because it implies there is a risk. The reality is that there is no risk. I doubt any significant study can show an increased risk of cancer from whatever trace amounts of acrylamide can be found in coffee. If people can’t possibly learn to under stand the concept of dose dependence then they will forever have to live in fear of everything. Because most things can kill you in sufficient quantity.

    Now @valiuth, you’re going to mess up their whole campaign with facts! ;-)

    • #22
    • January 25, 2018, at 12:23 PM PST
    • Like
  23. Roberto, Crusty Old Timer LLC Member
    Roberto, Crusty Old Timer LLCJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Valiuth (View Comment):
    Saying the risk is really low actually only fuels the problem because it implies there is a risk. The reality is that there is no risk. I doubt any significant study can show an increased risk of cancer from whatever trace amounts of acrylamide can be found in coffee. If people can’t possibly learn to under stand the concept of dose dependence then they will forever have to live in fear of everything. Because most things can kill you in sufficient quantity.

    Soon, soon…

    • #23
    • January 25, 2018, at 12:40 PM PST
    • 4 likes
  24. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn

    Roberto the Weary (View Comment):
    Soon, soon…

    How do these witch doctors get a way with stuff??? And no one is able to stop them scaring people who don’t know any better. If they ever have a legitimate warning, we will assume it is the boy crying wolf . . .

    • #24
    • January 25, 2018, at 12:44 PM PST
    • 1 like
  25. Brian Watt Member
    Brian WattJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Alternative OP Title: “Keep your filthy hands off my acidic drink!” (hat tip, The Pink Panther)

    • #25
    • January 25, 2018, at 1:01 PM PST
    • 1 like
  26. Roberto, Crusty Old Timer LLC Member
    Roberto, Crusty Old Timer LLCJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Front Seat Cat (View Comment):
    There’s a headline on Drudge that said California is thinking (or may have) of passing a $1000 fine to any waiter that offers a plastic straw – is it fake news, cause that one really hurt my head?? If not, then yes, it’s time for them to secede – they’ll be Venezuela in no time….

    It’ll be joining a growing wave tackling this crisis.

    “We need to create awareness around the issue of one-time use plastic straws and its detrimental effects on our landfills, waterways, and oceans,” Calderon explained in a press release.

    This isn’t just Calderon’s crusade. The California cities of San Luis Obispo and Davis both passed straws-on-request laws last year, and Manhattan Beach maintains a prohibition on all disposable plastics. And up in Seattle, food service businesses won’t be allowed to offer plastic straws or utensils as of July.

    • #26
    • January 25, 2018, at 1:21 PM PST
    • 2 likes
  27. SkipSul Coolidge
    SkipSulJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Because food vendors will want to keep costs down, and cannot always control the minutia of distribution, this means that yet again California is driving product labeling for the entire United States. If this goes through, then all coffee in the US, no matter where it is sold, will have these stupid warning labels.

    • #27
    • January 25, 2018, at 1:49 PM PST
    • 2 likes
  28. C. U. Douglas Thatcher
    C. U. DouglasJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    C. U. Douglas (View Comment):
    Didn’t California try to get phones labelled as potentially cancer causing, because there were rumors that cell phones caused brain cancer or something like that?

    Absolutely! Holding that sucker up to your ear would mangle your brain! I had some very concerned, uh, friends.

    I think I shared an article from Analog magazine back in the days of Ricochet 1.0 where in their fact section they discussed the impossibility of background cell phone radiation causing tumors. The reason was that cell phone energy was much, much too low to cause such a mutation. But it seems California has put a restraining order on logic and facts — they have to stay at least 5000 feet away from California at all times.

    • #28
    • January 25, 2018, at 1:58 PM PST
    • 3 likes
  29. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn

    SkipSul (View Comment):
    Because food vendors will want to keep costs down, and cannot always control the minutia of distribution, this means that yet again California is driving product labeling for the entire United States. If this goes through, then all coffee in the US, no matter where it is sold, will have these stupid warning labels.

    That’s what I was thinking! Florida and everyone else will fall right in line…

    • #29
    • January 25, 2018, at 2:04 PM PST
    • Like
  30. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn

    SkipSul (View Comment):
    this means that yet again California is driving product labeling for the entire United States. If this goes through, then all coffee in the US, no matter where it is sold, will have these stupid warning labels.

    It’s like an epidemic. Like the black plague.

    • #30
    • January 25, 2018, at 2:06 PM PST
    • Like

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