Note to coffee lovers: among those sold in supermarkets, some contain harmful substances, according to an analysis of 60 million consumers. Here are the products affected, as well as the reason.
After water, coffee is the most consumed drink on a daily basis. More than 80% of French people have an espresso or café au lait at least once a day. Among them, 67% make their coffee with a machine using a capsule or pod. The magazine 60 Millions de consommateurs is therefore interested in this drink and analyzes 51 coffees sold in supermarkets. Here are the brands not recommended according to the analysis.
4 brands contain potential traces of PAHs
Roasting, a decisive step in coffee production, is carried out at high temperature (around 200°C). During this process, any pesticide residues are destroyed or volatilized. A good point for the 51 references analyzed which therefore show no trace of these chemical substances.
On the other hand, roasting does not only have advantages since it forms polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), compounds recognized by health authorities as potentially carcinogenic. The problem is that there are currently no regulations for PAH residues in coffee, unlike oils for example.
Although most coffees have very low PAH levels, capsules do not. Tropical Planter (sold at Intermarché), nor those of Black cardnor decaffeinated products from the brand L’Or. Likewise, the brand’s coffee beans Naturela would contain ten times more PAH residues than average. These coffees are therefore strongly discouraged by 60 Million Consumers!
All coffees are slightly contaminated with acrylamide
Another undesirable substance produced during roasting: acrylamide. Coffee is a product that contributes largely to adult exposure to acrylamide, behind fried or fried potatoes. Potentially carcinogenic, this compound must not exceed the threshold of 400 µg/kg in roasted coffee.
Among the coffees analyzed, all are slightly contaminated, with quantities of acrylamide between 78 µg/kg and 345 µg/kg. The busiest of the 51 cafes is that of the brand Lavazza (in pod form).
Fragments of insects present in certain cafes
The analysis in question also highlighted the presence of foreign bodies in coffee beans and ground coffee. In fact, fragments of insects are sometimes found… and in large quantities! There are then nearly 80 in ground coffee. Bellarom from Lidl and 83 in coffee beans Alter Eco ! Enough to disgust some consumers…
NO to diets, YES to WW!
What dose should not be exceeded?
Even if we love coffee (a lot), we must be careful not to consume it in excess. The European Food Safety Authority also advises not to exceed 400 mg of caffeine per day, which is equivalent to 3-4 cups of coffee. For pregnant women, it is better to limit yourself to 1 to 2 per day (200mg). Indeed, caffeine consumed in excess can have side effects such as high blood pressure, the need to urinate frequently, increased nervousness or even stomach aches.
