Coffee is now offered under various attractive names, flavors, packaging, and forms. It is served in pre-prepared glass containers, plastic capsules, or even made of aluminum foil. With the increasing demand and growing competition between Western farmers and those in Africa and South America, children have been exploited in some production chains. These children, along with other farm workers, are exposed to the risks of inhaling agricultural chemicals and working long hours.
Coffee is considered a crop heavily reliant on pesticides. Producers of these coffees do not always employ preventative measures; instead, they involve children in harvesting, pruning, weeding, transporting the crop, and sometimes even spraying pesticides, thus increasing the risks. It is essential for public health authorities, such as the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition (PAFN), to require certifications confirming the existence of proper field monitoring of the quantities of hazardous pesticides used in cultivation and processing, and to ensure that producers do not employ children in agricultural work. Recently, warnings have emerged against consuming pre-brewed coffee of all types due to potential health risks, particularly from the chemicals widely used to remove caffeine. Safer methods for caffeine extraction exist, such as the Swiss method, which uses pressurized carbon dioxide. This method is very clean but expensive and less common.
This information is printed on the packaging. It is preferable to avoid consuming products that do not follow these safe methods. Coffee capsules, available in various colors, shapes, flavors, and sizes, are not entirely free of chemicals. There are concerns regarding the coffee itself, its packaging, or the roasting process at high temperatures. Tiny pieces of aluminum or plastic may leach into the coffee when it is exposed to normal pressure with boiling water.
The coffee can also develop mold, which is not visible to the naked eye, especially if the source is low quality or if it is stored improperly. It is best to reduce consumption of pre-ground coffee and focus on fresh, organic coffee beans, ground at a café or restaurant, or using a small home grinder. If you prefer decaffeinated coffee, it is better to choose coffee brewed using the “Swiss water ” method with aluminum capsules, rather than plastic ones.
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