Fox Business: Starbucks, Coffee Sellers in California Must Have Cancer Warning, Judge Says

Coffee sellers in California now have to put a cancer warning on coffee sold in the state. According to Fox Business, this move comes after a Los Angeles judge made a ruling, potentially exposing coffee companies in the areas to heavy fines.

The cause for the warning stems from acrylamide, which is a chemical that occurs as a byproduct of roasting coffee beans. The grounds for the ruling is that there’s a California law requiring companies to warn consumers of chemicals that could cause cancer. However, this ruling may not be final. The defendants in the case—including Starbucks—have until April 10 to file any objections.

In a statement cited by Fox Business, the National Coffee Association said, “Cancer warning labels on coffee would be misleading. The U.S. government’s own Dietary Guidelines state that coffee can be a part of a healthy lifestyle.”