Starbucks and other coffee companies in california should have to post warnings because the brew may contain an ingredient thats been linked to cancer, a judge has ruled. Scientific studies show that there is increased cancer in. Defendants in the proposition 65 case against starbucks and numerous other coffee manufacturers and retailers have indicated that they intend to file a motion to stay that action following a proposal by the california agency that administers prop. Even schools in california and starbucks have the prop 65. Proposition 65 nonsense at starbucks this is where california is crazy i suppose after six years ive become used to the signs on the front of buildings about materials known to the state of california to cause cancer, but this sign on the milksugar countertops represents a new level of litigious avoidancedisclaimer nonsense i have not seen before. For example, carbon monoxide could be listed for car exhaust or tobacco smoke another option is to look up the chemical directly on the prop 65 list, if you know what you are looking for. A nonprofit is claiming that because of the levels of acrylamide in these chains coffee consumers need to be warned. Veris industries, llc 12345 leveton drive tualatin, or 97062 usa 18003548556. California court stuns coffee industry with new cancer. A sign in a san francisco starbucks coffee shop warns customers that coffee and baked goods.
And that brings it under the terms of prop 65, which has already led to a proliferation of warnings on and around thousands of common goods and services in california, from office furniture to. He says coffee sellers in the state should have to post cancer warnings. With a motion for permanent injunction to be heard on july 31. Prop 65 is a regular target of business groups who say its privaterightofaction provisions and farranging scope leads retailers. Starbucks, in which a california superior court judge rejected the evidence presented by coffee roasters and retailers to demonstrate that exposures to acrylamide in coffee were exempt from proposition 65s warning requirement. Starbucks and other coffee companies in california should have to post warnings because the brew may contain an ingredient thats been linked to cancer, a. News sugar, cream and a prop 65 warning label with your coffee. No cancer warnings required on coffee sold in california. A friend of mine recently bought a toaster at macys and a prop 65 warning was on it. But proposition 65 warnings have become such a common sight.
There is zero evidence that the whole prop 65 fallout has benefitted anybody other than sign makers and attorneys. One of the most visible results of this act are the warning signs you see posted in. If the shortform warning described in section 25603 b is provided on the product label, the catalog warning may use the same content. Starbucks coffee in california must have cancer warning. Its purpose is to protect drinking water sources from substances known to cause.
The safe drinking water and toxic enforcement act, also known as california proposition 65 prop 65, is a california law passed in 1986. Breaking down the prop 65 trial that has starbucks on edge. Sugar, cream and a prop 65 warning label with your coffee. Coffee brands fight california ruling on cancer warnings 1980sera state law on chemicals had wide voter support, but trade group says it is confusing, frightening as applied to coffee. Proposition 65 fact sheet for tenants office of environmental health hazard assessment california environmental protection agency this. Starbucks expert pressed on cancer risk in prop 65 trial. The starbucks value proposition mostly focus on three key. Questions and answers for businesses internet and catalog warnings march 2018 the item being purchased. California proposes to exempt coffee from prop 65 warning requirement just a short time after a california court ruled in council for education etc. Judge rules starbucks and other coffee should come with a. Big name coffee chains drawn into acrylamide fight news.
Even the fda thinks californias cancer warnings on coffee. By this way, starbucks was known for their highestquality coffee in the world to offer to their. Court rejects coffee sellers proposition 65 defense that. Without proper warnings regarding the toxic effects of exposures to the listed chemical resulting from contact with the products, california citizens lack the information necessary to make informed. Warning sign must include the following three items.
Proposition 65 warning chemicals known to the state of california to cause cancer and reproductive toxicity, including acrylamide, are present in coffee. Prop 65 is a regular target of business groups who say its privaterightofaction provisions and. After coffee brewhaha, ca fears cancer warnings have gone. California court stuns coffee industry with new cancer warning label requirement starbucks and others really worried. A sign in a san francisco starbucks coffee shop warns customers that. The judge, along with those who recommended adding coffee to the prop 65 list, has driven the notion of credibility in california deeper into the ground. California proposes to exempt coffee from prop 65 warning. Not the morning joe after coffee brewhaha, ca fears cancer warnings have gone seriously wrong weary from prop 65 lawsuits, state now says warnings should be reserved for real threats. Proposed oehha regulation clarifies that cancer warnings. The starbucks value proposition mostly focus on three key points.
Acrylamide is not added to our products, but results from cooking such as when coffee beans are roasted. Even the fda thinks californias cancer warnings on coffee are unnecessary for the billionth time, there is no verified link between coffee and cancer. These products contain chemicals known to the state of california to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. All trademarks are the property of veris industries, llc, its subsidiaries, and affiliated companies. Plants contain lead along with other metals and trace minerals, taken up by plants from the soil. Sacramento the california office of environmental health hazard assessment oehha today proposed a new regulation clarifying that cancer warnings are not required. It is a natural byproduct in many foods that are heated to a high temperature, and is actually higher in foods like french fries and potato chips.
Coffee brands fight california ruling on cancer warnings wsj. The office of the attorney general is unable to guarantee the accuracy of this translation and is therefore not liable for any inaccurate information resulting from the translation application tool. The twoway the alleged culprit is acrylamide, a chemical found in roasted beans. Judge rules coffee must come with a cancer warning, but should it. Brophy said that as defendants like starbucks and peets began placing proposition 65 warnings on their premises after they lost the phase 2 trial, they will have a solid case that no civil. Consumer activists praise the law as a public health service. Coffee requires cancer warning, california judge rules. On april 12, 2018, we wrote about the decision in council for research on education in toxics v. Statement on californias prop 65 suit ruling californian ruling, 29 march 2018, on the suit filed 8 years ago by the council for education and research on toxics cert, targeting coffee companies, has the potential for coffee to carry an ominous cancer warning label in the state of california. Starbucks carefully selected their coffee beans from the best sources of coffee all around the world.
After last years state court ruling, a handful of coffee retailers agreed to pay the stiff prop 65 fines and post warning labels. A posted proposition 65 warning sign is seen behind a coffee mug at a starbucks coffee shop in burbank, calif. You cant go into a starbucks, grocery store or restaurant in california without seeing a prop 65 warning sign. Proposition 65 nonsense at starbucks this is where cal. It has helped push companies to remove or reduce chemicals like 4methylimidazole from.