A California Lawsuit Wants Coffee Shops To Warn About Cancer

A potentially carcinogenic compound in coffee is at the center of a California lawsuit — but you probably don't need to put down your coffee cup right away. Filed in 2010 by a nonprofit, the suit alleges levels of the chemical acrylamide in coffee should force companies selling the beverage to warn consumers about it. California's Proposition 65 law requires the state to inform residents about approximately 800 chemicals it's labeled toxic or cancer-causing. It's important to note the law, which was approved in 1986, has made Prop. 65 notices prevalent in the state. The warning about coffee would join cautionary advisories on homes, workplaces, products and even parking lots.Some defendants in this case have settled, agreeing to post the Prop. 65 cancer warning.Although past studies have highlighted the potential health benefits of coffee, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the National Cancer Institute have noted the link between acrylamide found in coffee and cancer. The compound is produced when coffee beans are roasted at a high temperature.Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.