Hong Kong Consumer Council finds cancer-causing substance in 95 per cent of coffee samples

A cancer-causing substance was detected in more than 95 per cent of coffee samples tested by Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog.

The Consumer Council revealed on Monday it had tested 49 different types of coffee products on the market and found genotoxic carcinogenic acrylamide in 47 samples, with those of instant coffee containing a higher level of the substance.

The samples tested included instant coffee, coffee beans, capsules and powder.

Acrylamide, a genotoxic carcinogen and neurotoxic substance, is a pollutant produced from free amino acids and by reducing sugars in food at high temperatures. Prolonged exposure to high doses of acrylamide can increase the risk of cancer.

“Although the acrylamide content in coffee is relatively lower than fried foods, such as potato chips and French fries, consumers should pay attention to the amount and frequency of consumption when drinking coffee to reduce the intake of acrylamide,” said Nora Tam Fung-yee, chairwoman of the council’s research and testing committee.

The checks showed that instant coffee had the highest acrylamide content per kilogram, ranging from 160 to 790 micrograms, while other types of coffee contained between 53 and 240 micrograms of the substance.

The instant coffee brand with the highest amount of acrylamide detected was Taster’s Choice (Nestle) Original Soluble Coffee, at 790 micrograms per kilogram.

Other brands with relatively high levels of acrylamide ranging from 580 to 680 micrograms include Tesco Gold - Rich & Smooth Freeze Dried Instant Coffee, M&S Food Italian Style Instant Coffee, Meadows Gold Roast - Freeze Dried Instant Coffee and Select Instant Coffee - Classic.