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?

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  1. OkieSailor Member
    OkieSailor
    @OkieSailor

    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.

    Too late their brains are a completely lost cause.

    • #31
  2. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Susan Quinn: One of the smartest decisions that my husband and I ever made was leaving California more than ten years ago.

    See my latest post . . .

    • #32
  3. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    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….

    LOL just made a post on it . . .

    • #33
  4. Mike-K Member
    Mike-K
    @

    Valiuth (View Comment):
    I doubt any significant study can show an increased risk of cancer from whatever trace amounts of acrylamide can be found in coffee.

    Paracelsus, whose real name was  Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, said in the 16th century, “The poison is in the dose.”

    He was murdered. Some things are just too dangerous to know.

    • #34
  5. rico Inactive
    rico
    @rico

    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.

    I seriously doubt it in this case. Coffee distributors will not denigrate their product nationwide for the sake of California’s regulators. California consumers will pay for special California packaging.

    • #35
  6. Doug Watt Member
    Doug Watt
    @DougWatt

    I never saw a PSA (Public Service Announcement) that stated:

    “Warning! Resisting arrest could lead to injury due to blunt force trauma, or death due to excessive lead exposure.”

    Some dangers are more dangerous than other dangers. Mmmm coffee and donuts.

     

    • #36
  7. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Doug Watt (View Comment):
    I never saw a PSA (Public Service Announcement) that stated:

    “Warning! Resisting arrest could lead to injury due to blunt force trauma, or death due to excessive lead exposure.”

    Some dangers are more dangerous than other dangers. Mmmm coffee and donuts.

    Now you’re making me hungry, Doug!! Are you buying?

    • #37
  8. Brian Watt Inactive
    Brian Watt
    @BrianWatt

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Doug Watt (View Comment):
    I never saw a PSA (Public Service Announcement) that stated:

    “Warning! Resisting arrest could lead to injury due to blunt force trauma, or death due to excessive lead exposure.”

    Some dangers are more dangerous than other dangers. Mmmm coffee and donuts.

    Now you’re making me hungry, Doug!! Are you buying?

    Donuts will kill you, Susan. Coffee…not so much.

    • #38
  9. Doug Watt Member
    Doug Watt
    @DougWatt

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Doug Watt (View Comment):
    I never saw a PSA (Public Service Announcement) that stated:

    “Warning! Resisting arrest could lead to injury due to blunt force trauma, or death due to excessive lead exposure.”

    Some dangers are more dangerous than other dangers. Mmmm coffee and donuts.

    Now you’re making me hungry, Doug!! Are you buying?

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Doug Watt (View Comment):
    I never saw a PSA (Public Service Announcement) that stated:

    “Warning! Resisting arrest could lead to injury due to blunt force trauma, or death due to excessive lead exposure.”

    Some dangers are more dangerous than other dangers. Mmmm coffee and donuts.

    Now you’re making me hungry, Doug!! Are you buying?

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Doug Watt (View Comment):
    I never saw a PSA (Public Service Announcement) that stated:

    “Warning! Resisting arrest could lead to injury due to blunt force trauma, or death due to excessive lead exposure.”

    Some dangers are more dangerous than other dangers. Mmmm coffee and donuts.

    Now you’re making me hungry, Doug!! Are you buying?

    Sure, who knew that coffee and donuts would become a political statement?

    • #39
  10. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Brian Watt (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Doug Watt (View Comment):
    I never saw a PSA (Public Service Announcement) that stated:

    “Warning! Resisting arrest could lead to injury due to blunt force trauma, or death due to excessive lead exposure.”

    Some dangers are more dangerous than other dangers. Mmmm coffee and donuts.

    Now you’re making me hungry, Doug!! Are you buying?

    Donuts will kill you, Susan. Coffee…not so much.

    Oh, but I’ll die with a smile on my face. Chocolate/chocolate, if you please.

    • #40
  11. Stina Inactive
    Stina
    @CM

    I demand Arsenic warning labels on my Apples. Right now.

    Fruits and Vegetables may kill me if I eat them.

    • #41
  12. Dorrk Inactive
    Dorrk
    @Dorrk

    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….

    I just heard Larry David’s daughter making the case against plastic straws and lids on a podcast earlier today. They’re serious!

    • #42
  13. Jules PA Inactive
    Jules PA
    @JulesPA

    I can’t wait to see them stamp coffee beans with their carcinogen warning.

    Itty bitty font.

    On each bean.

    Oh. Brother.

    • #43
  14. Jules PA Inactive
    Jules PA
    @JulesPA

    I bet they make coffee illegal, then permit it to be sold for medical uses first, then add on recreational use, with a tax to cover the increased costs of coffee related cancer.

    On the other hand, I bet no one calculated the unintended consequence of increased in murder and road rage from coffee drinkers experiencing withdrawal…maybe they will do a 180 on a coffee label.

    • #44
  15. Jules PA Inactive
    Jules PA
    @JulesPA

    California, where common sense is the only thing illegal.

    • #45
  16. Jules PA Inactive
    Jules PA
    @JulesPA

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):
    Chocolate/chocolate,

    My favorite donut too!

    • #46
  17. rico Inactive
    rico
    @rico

    Jules PA (View Comment):
    On the other hand, I bet no one calculated the unintended consequence of increased in murder and road rage from coffee drinkers experiencing withdrawal…

    Weed should help mitigate that.

    • #47
  18. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Dorrk (View Comment):
    I just heard Larry David’s daughter making the case against plastic straws and lids on a podcast earlier today. They’re serious!

    These people have no life, seriously. The world is filled with so many issues that need attending, and they worry about straws.

    • #48
  19. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Jules PA (View Comment):
    California, where common sense is the only thing illegal.

    Like how many millions of dollars are they spending to “warn” people about all these things that will harm them.

    • #49
  20. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Jules PA (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):
    Chocolate/chocolate,

    My favorite donut too!

    Just one more thing we have in common! Good woman!

    • #50
  21. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Dorrk (View Comment):

    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….

    I just heard Larry David’s daughter making the case against plastic straws and lids on a podcast earlier today. They’re serious!

    If California wanted to put a tax on plastic straws and lids in order to discourage them I wouldn’t object. I wouldn’t object even if my own state did it. I’m not sure it’s the biggest solid waste issue to get all activist about, though.

    Deposits on beverage containers have done well around here in keeping them out of our roadside ditches. I’m all for them. What I didn’t like was when, after they were successfully implemented, some self-styled environmental types then demanded that the stores and chains that sold the beverages turn over any unclaimed deposits to their activist groups. They didn’t get them (as far as I know) but it just shows that for some of the loudest of them it’s more about greed than the environment.

    • #51
  22. Valiuth Member
    Valiuth
    @Valiuth

    Roberto the Weary (View Comment):

    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…

    I’ve been railing against Hydroxic Acid for years now. Did you know in third world countries we can detect it in every single cell of new born babies!

    • #52
  23. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Valiuth (View Comment):

    Roberto the Weary (View Comment):

    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…

    I’ve been railing against Hydroxic Acid for years now. Did you know in third world countries we can detect it in every single cell of new born babies.

    Valiuth (View Comment):

    Roberto the Weary (View Comment):

    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…

    I’ve been railing against Hydroxic Acid for years now. Did you know in third world countries we can detect it in every single cell of new born babies!

    Valiuth, is that the chemical that shows up in baby formula?

    • #53
  24. Rodin Member
    Rodin
    @Rodin

    My guess is that they are looking to apply a “sin tax” on coffee. What better revenue source than a legal, addictive substance that is consumed by the gallon? The state is jealous of Starbuck’s profits: It must be shared!

    The state has long demonstrated it doesn’t care about public health. What “sanctuary state” does? So this must be about money.

    • #54
  25. Valiuth Member
    Valiuth
    @Valiuth

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Valiuth (View Comment):

    Roberto the Weary (View Comment):

    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…

    I’ve been railing against Hydroxic Acid for years now. Did you know in third world countries we can detect it in every single cell of new born babies.

    Valiuth (View Comment):

    Roberto the Weary (View Comment):

    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…

    I’ve been railing against Hydroxic Acid for years now. Did you know in third world countries we can detect it in every single cell of new born babies!

    Valiuth, is that the chemical that shows up in baby formula?

    Not just baby formula, but in milk, vegetables, fruits, meat. We are literally exposed to it every day! And this is the most shocking thing. No manufacturer has to label their product as containing it.

    • #55
  26. Valiuth Member
    Valiuth
    @Valiuth

    Rodin (View Comment):
    My guess is that they are looking to apply a “sin tax” on coffee. What better revenue source than a legal, addictive substance that is consumed by the gallon? The state is jealous of Starbuck’s profits: It must be shared!

    The state has long demonstrated it doesn’t care about public health. What “sanctuary state” does? So this must be about money.

    I’ve read that in California a municipality has banned straws. I think we just need to make drinking anything as inconvenient as possible. No more plastic and paper cups either! Everyone just need to drink from a hose attached to a single large carboy filled with de-ionized water supplemented with minerals. The water of course will rainwater so as no to deprive the fish of their precious rivers.

    • #56
  27. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    DrewInWisconsin (View Comment):

    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.

    I saw a liberal on Tucker the other night who actually said that we can change human nature. And they call us “science deniers.”

    • #57
  28. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    RightAngles (View Comment):
    I saw a liberal on Tucker the other night who actually said that we can change human nature. And they call us “science deniers.”

    Of course, RA! That’s why they try to take over everyone’s lives because in their utopian view, everyone and everything is perfectible. Maybe they should spend more time working on themselves?

    • #58
  29. rico Inactive
    rico
    @rico

    Rodin (View Comment):
    The state is jealous of Starbuck’s profits: It must be shared!

    Hey, Starbucks is serving cities across the country!

    It espouses popular progressive values and provides plate glass windows for protesters.

    • #59
  30. Old Bathos Member
    Old Bathos
    @OldBathos

    I have broken out my crayolas and taken action posing as a Californian:

     

     

    • #60
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