Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

Wake-up call to cancer risks over coffee

Wake-up call to cancer risks over coffee

Be wary of cancer risks when drinking too much coffee as the consumer watchdog found that 47 of 49 coffee products in supermarkets contains a carcinogen.
Meanwhile, the watchdog also found that the prices of over 700 food and personal-care products from four supermarket chains increased by an average of 1.5 percent between June and November.

The Consumer Council tested 10 coffee beans, nine coffee capsules, 16 coffee powders and 14 instant coffee samples on the market priced from HK$15 to HK$168 per pack.

Of the 47 samples tested, the amount of the carcinogen acrylamide per kilogram ranged from 53 microgram to 790mcg.

Taster's Choice (Nestle) Original Soluble Coffee from Korea had the highest content of the carcinogen at 790mcg per kg, although it is still lower than the European Union's standard of 850mcg for instant coffee products.

Acrylamide is a genotoxic carcinogen that is produced from free amino acids and the process of reducing sugar at high temperatures.

While the acrylamide content in coffee is lower than in potato chips and French fries, the chairwoman of the council's research and testing committee, Nora Tam Fung-yee, said consumers should pay attention to how much coffee they consume.

Noting that two of the tested samples - products from Coffee Academics and OPAL coffee - were free from acrylamide, Tam said: "It is feasible for manufacturers to reduce the possible formation of acrylamide during the various production stages of coffee products, from raw ingredient selection to processing."

Currently, the city has no regulations for acrylamide content in food.

The council also found that 46 samples contained pesticides, including 45 with folpet - commonly found in fruits and vegetables.

The amount of folpet in 38 samples exceeded the maximum residue limit set by the European Food Safety Authority of 0.1 milligram of folpet per kg.

The council also found that caffeine levels vary among the four types of coffee products, with instant coffee samples having the highest caffeine content among beans, capsules and powders.

Further, 15 samples were found with two to three types of pesticides, and the watchdog urged manufacturers to only consider using chemical pest control as the last resort for the sake of food safety and environmental protection.

Tam added: "Prolonged intake of caffeine may lead to addiction and impact the duration and quality of sleep, as well as melatonin secretion."

Separately, the council found that the average prices of baked goods, cereals and spreads went up by 2.4 percent across supermarkets including ParkNShop, Market Place by Jasons, Aeon and DCH Food Mart.

The council's chief executive, Gilly Wong Fung-han, warned that product prices will "inevitably" increase in the coming months due to the lower number of cargo flights to Hong Kong.

"We believe that we should suffer the pain together, along with suppliers and supermarket chains. They have to really control and guard their price adjustments to ensure that people can buy daily necessities at affordable prices."
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
×