Some years ago FE reported that while EPA has specific limits for maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) of arsenic in drinking water, FDA then had no specification/limit set for the water-based juices that we drink. Now there’s a similar issue with another chemical.
According to recent lab research sponsored by the Clean Label Project (CLP), some decaf coffees, which use methylene chloride (aka methyl chloride or dichloromethane) in the decaffeination process, have been tested at contamination levels of 50 parts per billion dichloromethane or higher. The EPA allows a maximum of 5 ppb in drinking water with a preferred or maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG) of zero ppb. In 2000, the state of California set a public health goal of not more than 4 ppb of methylene chloride in drinking water, based on a daily consumption of 2.2 liters of water per day. According to EPA, high levels of dichloromethane can cause liver problems and/or an increased risk of cancer.