Viewpoint: No, coffee is not ‘steeped in pesticides’ or filled with bugs and mold

The espresso basket probably has more legs than the ground coffee. Credit: Revelstoke
The espresso basket probably has more legs than the ground coffee. Credit: Revelstoke

Myth #1: Conventional coffee is steeped in synthetic fertilizers and pesticides

Truth: First off, this is something that is being perpetuated by a certain organic coffee company as a way to market their products [which] just shows a complete lack of understanding of how fertilizers and pesticides are even used. No foods, coffee included, are steeped in pesticides.

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Myth #2: Mold and mycotoxins in coffee are making you sick

Truth: Evidence shows that mycotoxins are present in a large percentage of green coffee beans (before roasting)…. Wet processing gets rid of most of the molds and mycotoxins. In addition, crops get discarded if they exceed a certain level.

Myth #4: Ground coffee can contain up to 10 percent cockroaches

Truth: There’s a recent viral video going around stating that the FDA allows up to 10 percent cockroaches in ground coffee. Although this is based on a bit of truth, the actual regulation is being misinterpreted. The FDA regulatory action guidance states:

The following represents criteria for direct reference seizure: Insects and Mold — an average of 10 percent or more by count of green coffee beans are insect infested, including insect damaged, or moldy.

So, this is not the same as stating that 10 percent of ground coffee can be cockroaches.

This is an excerpt. Read the original post here.

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