THE ESSENTIAL
- According to a survey of 60 million consumers, “Planteur des Tropiques” coffee capsules from Intermarché and those from L'Or display high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), classified as carcinogenic.
- Acrylamide, another toxic substance formed at high temperatures, is detected at concerning levels in Lavazza pods. In addition, certain products such as those from Bellarom (Lidl) and Alter Eco contain insect fragments, revealing production flaws.
- To reduce the risks, prefer coffee beans or from certified organic brands.
What's really in our morning coffee? A survey by the 60 Million Consumers association reveals that certain brands marketed in France present notorious health risks. If coffee, the second drink consumed in the world after water, is regularly singled out for its common side effects (headaches, digestive disorders, increased heart rate, etc.), the undesirable substances it contains could prove even more worrying.
Aromatic hydrocarbons, acrylamide…
The investigation thus revealed alarming levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in several products, notably Planteur des Tropiques capsules, sold at Intermarché. These compounds, formed during roasting at high temperatures, are classified as carcinogenic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Another very popular brand, Carte Noire, produced by the Italian company Luigi Lavazza, also displays worrying levels of PAHs, as do the decaffeinated capsules of L'Or, highlighted for their concentration four times higher than that of classic ground coffee.
Another cause for concern: the presence of acrylamide, a chemical substance that forms when cooking at high temperatures. Although doses generally remain within limits considered acceptable, certain references, such as Lavazza pods, come dangerously close to the limit of 400 micrograms per kilogram. This compound is on the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) list of hazardous substances, reinforcing questions about the regulations surrounding these products.
What to do as a consumer?
Beyond chemical risks, some coffees even present physical contamination problems. Bellarom products, found at Lidl, and Alter Eco grains contain insect fragments – up to 83. If this ingestion is safe according to experts (each person unintentionally eats between 500 grams and 1 kg insects per year), it highlights major flaws in the production chains. Enough to tarnish the image of brands that are nevertheless popular with consumers.
Faced with these revelations, several precautions are necessary. It is better to favor coffee beans or ground coffee, which is less exposed to contaminants linked to the capsule manufacturing process. Likewise, it is preferable to choose brands displaying organic certifications or rigorous controls on their composition, origin and quality.
