Decaf Coffee Might Be Banned In Illinois Soon: Here’s Why

Nearly 26 million Americans drink decaf coffee every single day - that includes Illinois residents.  That could change very soon if the FDA bans decaf coffee.

According to the National Coffee Association, over $110 billion has been spent on coffee by consumers in a single year.  Plus, the coffee industry is responsible for over 2.2 million jobs in the United States alone.

If you're an avid coffee drinker, I've got some unfortunate news.  Health experts are petitioning the FDA to ban decaf coffee.  Here's what we know.

Read More: FDA Warns to Stop Using Cinnamon Bought at Illinois Stores 

Decaf Coffee Might Be Banned Soon: Here's Why

You'd think when decaf coffee is safe to drink because millions drink it.

"Methylene chloride has been used for decades in the decaf coffee industry. This colorless liquid has also been used in industrial manufacturing processes including pharmaceuticals, paint removers and paint stripping, metal cleaning and degreasing." [brgeneral]

Methylene chloride actually has had negative effects on the eyes, liver, skin, and the heart, which can cause dizziness, tingling throughout the body, nausea, and potentially cancer in very sever cases.

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Health experts are pushing for the FDA to ban methylene chloride because of its links to higher risk of causing cancer.

Read More: New Illinois Law Bans Microchipping Employees 

What should you do if you're a decaf coffee drinker?

So, if you're a coffee drinker and love decaf, maybe think about switching up your routine and what you're consuming every morning.

Switching to brands that are solvent-free, chemical-free, or organic could be much safer to consume.  The FDA also suggests checking for packaging that have verified labels free of methylene chloride, too.