California Judge Says Starbucks Must Post Cancer Warnings

It’s been years of legal struggle between a non-profit group and big coffee companies and the non-profit has emerged as the victor.

A California just has said that coffee sellers in the state will have to post cancer warnings.

There is a chemical produced when beans are roasted that is known as a carcinogen.

The Council for Education and Research on Toxics has fought to get the coffee industry to remove the carcinogen, known as acrylamide, from processing.

Starbucks, which has led the industry, has argued that the level of the chemical in coffee isn’t harmful and any risks are outweighed by benefits.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Elihu Berle disagreed and announced this week that there has been no proper grounds presented by the coffee makers.

Berle wrote, “While plaintiff offered evidence that consumption of coffee increases the risk of harm to the fetus, to infants, to children and to adults, defendants’ medical and epidemiology experts testified that they had no opinion on causation. Defendants failed to satisfy their burden of proving … that consumption of coffee confers a benefit to human health.”

“This lawsuit has made a mockery of Prop. 65, has confused consumers, and does nothing to improve public health,” argued William Murray, president and CEO of the National Coffee Association.

Disclaimer: We have no position in Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX) and have not been compensated for this article.