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December 2012 Moms
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Decaf coffee and chemicals

GibbybabeGibbybabe member
in December 2012 Moms

For you mommies who are substituting decaf for regular while pregnant...

I came across this nugget of information last week from my favorite coffee shop that I thought I would share.  The typical process for stripping caffeine from the coffee bean involves harsh chemicals including formaldehyde which can be dangerous for your LO.

If you have a quality-focused, local coffee shop in your area that roasts their own coffee, stop in and ask them about their caffeine-removal process.  There is another way to process decaf coffee that only uses water but the process takes much longer and is much less common.  The coffee will generally cost you more but it is worth every penny to stay away from those harsh chemicals. 

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Re: Decaf coffee and chemicals

  • NeverKnewNeverKnew member

    So, the insinuation is that the coffee still has formaldehyde and other toxins in it? Sorry, sounds like a scare tactic to get you to buy their more-expensive decaf. I hate when people who don't know what they're talking about make others fear their food. 

    ETA: I don't mean you, either - I mean the person you were speaking to!

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  • GibbybabeGibbybabe member
    I'm not sure how much of the chemical remains after the process is complete.  Not pregnant...I wouldn't worry about it at all but I'm definitely up for going the extra mile to keep my baby safe while pregnant!  It's just a tip...I'm certainly not trying to scare anyone.
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  • mwoesmashmwoesmash

    I came to the same sad realization Thursday. I never thought about the decaffeinatioin process before. 

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decaffeination

    Talking to a local shop is a good idea that had not occurred to me before. I rarely use the one by me, but this certainly is motivating.

    BabyFruit Ticker
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  • NeverKnewNeverKnew member

    This just hits me at my biggest pet peeve. I've got two degrees in food science and, well, just watch popular press and see how many stories and articles "reveal" secrets that the food industry wouldn't want you know.

    Unless you're educating with actual knowledge of the process - which, the formeldahyde comment blew your credibility immediately - and come with articles (actual scientific research) that demonstrate a possible contraindication with pregnancy, you're presenting anecdotal evidence and half truths with the intent to sensationalize. 

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  • mwoesmashmwoesmash
    imageNeverKnew:

    So, the insinuation is that the coffee still has formaldehyde and other toxins in it? Sorry, sounds like a scare tactic to get you to buy their more-expensive decaf. I hate when people who don't know what they're talking about make others fear their food. 

    ETA: I don't mean you, either - I mean the person you were speaking to!

    I find it plausible. There aren't long range studies on lots of things. I think every person's got to do what works for them, but it made me reconsider having decaf over a small amount of coffee.

    BabyFruit Ticker
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