At the time of his 2009 interview, Emlen also said that U.S. standards allowed for coffee beans to contain up to 10% “insect filth and insects” — a fact that has been somewhat misrepresented. According to guidance issued by the FDA, an average of 10% or more of green coffee beans were found to be insect-infested, which included beans damaged by insects or mold.
That isn’t super encouraging that the standard is less than 10% any matter that isn’t coffee, including insect parts.
Though I think (anyone feel free to jump in if I’ve got it wrong) that the coffee limits are not 10% non-coffee matter by weight but rather 10% of beans demonstrating insect damage/infestation/mold. This is not exactly reassuring, but it’s almost certainly far less insects than 10% of your coffee bag’s weight being ground up buggies. You can read about the FDA’s coffee analysis process which is interesting, if somewhat opaque.
I’m going to tell myself that this is an American thing that the EU protects me from. Then I will not look into it any further, so that I can continue to exist. Thank you
I’m pretty sure all insect fragments, rodent droppings, and the like all vanish as soon as they cross the EU border in accordance with food safety regulations. /s
I did start reading into said EU regulations a bit, but I won’t ruin your day.
Oh god, I like Colombian coffee. Excuse me while I retch.
I’ll have you know roachfee is a sustainable alternative to pure coffee. /s
More seriously it looks like this is primarily based on anecdotes and was directed at ground coffee vs whole beans.
That isn’t super encouraging that the standard is less than 10% any matter that isn’t coffee, including insect parts.
You’re not going to be encouraged by everything else they allow.
Though I think (anyone feel free to jump in if I’ve got it wrong) that the coffee limits are not 10% non-coffee matter by weight but rather 10% of beans demonstrating insect damage/infestation/mold. This is not exactly reassuring, but it’s almost certainly far less insects than 10% of your coffee bag’s weight being ground up buggies. You can read about the FDA’s coffee analysis process which is interesting, if somewhat opaque.
I’m going to tell myself that this is an American thing that the EU protects me from. Then I will not look into it any further, so that I can continue to exist. Thank you
I’m pretty sure all insect fragments, rodent droppings, and the like all vanish as soon as they cross the EU border in accordance with food safety regulations. /s
I did start reading into said EU regulations a bit, but I won’t ruin your day.