Coffee is one of the most consumed drinks in the world. This drink, contrary to popular belief, contains a large amount of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and bioactive substances. But are the capsules containing our favorite beverage bad for your health?
After water, it is the coffee that the French consume the most in their homes. Of course he is therefore watched. Previous studies and in particular that of theNational Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES) in 2013 had put the tip in the ears of consumers on the various contaminants, which are found in coffee capsules. Namely: copper, zinc, acrylamide, cobalt, tin, chromium, nickel or aluminum. The tests focused on 10 brands of capsules, compatible with one of the 4 coffee maker technologies ” espresso “ the most sold in France.
So a legitimate question arose during the study, do these chemical contaminants migrate from the capsule to the coffee? According to 60 million consumers , ANSES partner in this study, the results are generally reassuring. Aluminum? do not panic. Even though it is a neurotoxicant, its presence is not strong enough to cause damage to our body. “At a rate of about four cups of espresso a day, we do not exceed 0.3% of the tolerable weekly dose. As for the six other metals sought, none of them exposed to more than 0.8% of the tolerable doses “.
The “furan” a problematic component
However, as 60 million consumers noted, “Furan, produced during roasting and classified “possible carcinogen”, is more problematic because it was detected in all samples “. ANSES could not draw up “No conclusion“Especially because of the “Very high volatility“Of the molecule. Furan is a small molecule formed when food is cooked. It is thus found in prepackaged foods that have undergone heat treatment, coffee pods or baby jars are perfect examples.
According to one spanish study of 2011, the amount of furan present in coffee is between 43 and 146 ng / ml in the pods. Unlike filter coffee, the furan present is 20 to 78 ng / ml. However, Catalan researchers estimate that it would take around 20 cups to drink to reach a hazardous human exposure.
On the side ofEuropean Food Safety Authority (EFSA), caution is required with the presence of a molecule such as furan, doubts remain. “Gaps in our knowledge on the toxicity of furans and methyl furans and on exposure to these substances”. […] the average consumption of foods containing furan points to a low risk to the health of most consumers but, for heavy consumers, exposure is up to three times higher than the intake considered to be of low concern for human health ”.
The coffee content, to watch out for
In 2013, ANSES emphasized that “The development of“ espresso ”machines could have repercussions on consumers’ exposure to caffeine if these coffees are consumed in the same quantities as traditional coffee”. Indeed, the coffee capsules have an overdose of caffeine. According to a recent Australian study, after six cups of coffee a day, the amount of lipids in the blood increases, which can be harmful to cardiovascular health. The researchers nevertheless specify that this association is established on a heavy consumption of coffee for a long time.