Are harmful chemicals used in the decaffeination process?
Two basic decaffeination processes are used in the U.S.: water extraction and direct solvent extraction. In the water extraction process, the coffee beans are steamed and then soaked and rinsed, allowing the caffeine to diffuse from the beans into the water, using no artificial chemicals. In the direct solvent extraction process, decaffeination is accomplished by direct application of methylene chloride, ethyl acetate or carbon dioxide to the coffee beans. The beans are then steamed to remove the residual solvent, then dried and roasted. Methylene chloride received a great deal of attention when it was found to be an animal carcinogen when given by inhalation. Yet, the administration of methylene chloride to mice in drinking water (which more closely resembles human exposure through coffee drinking) resulted in no adverse health effects. The FDA continues to permit the use of methylene chloride to decaffeinate coffee because it has determined that any potential health risk is so low “a
