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Nov 29, 2006 9:30 am US/Central
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Decaf Coffee Is Not Caffeine-Free
by Amelia Santaniello
(WCCO)
If you drink decaf coffee, it does not mean you are caffeine-free. A recent study by University of Florida researchers documented that almost all decaffeinated coffee contains some measure of caffeine.
Maybe you knew that. But for a lot people, the bigger question is how much caffeine is in there?
Caffeine is the most widely consumed drug in the world and because of its widespread use, some doctors caution patients with certain medical conditions to limit their caffeine intake.
"There's a widespread belief that high doses of caffeine cause palpitations and irregular heartbeat," said Dr. Peter Melchert with Abbott Northwestern Hospital.
Coffee is a stimulant that can affect your heart and your central nervous system.
"And as a drug, like any other drug -- say for example aspirin, alcohol or antibiotics -- it's important to know what doses you're taking," Melchert said.
People sometimes consume caffeine without even knowing it. It shows up in products like pain relievers and cold medicine. Too much caffeine may reduce a baby's birth weight and it has also been shown to reduce sperm movement.
WCCO-TV wanted to see if that cup of decaf is the right dose, so we visited five popular coffee shops: Caribou, Dunn Brothers, Starbucks, SuperAmerica and Holiday. Then we gathered up the samples and had Minnesota Valley Testing Lab check the samples for caffeine levels.
The Food and Drug Administration said coffee must have 97 percent of its caffeine removed to be labeled decaf. The National Coffee Association said an 8 ounce cup of decaf should average 3 milligrams of caffeine.
Here's the breakdown of our findings per 8 ounce cup:
• Caribou: 3.3 milligrams
• Dunn Brothers: 4 milligrams
• SuperAmerica: 4.4 milligrams
• Holiday: 6.9 milligrams
• Starbucks: 175 milligrams, or essentially the equivalent of drinking a regular cup of coffee.
WCCO-TV asked Starbucks if it was possible we were mistakenly given a caffeinated cup of coffee. The company suggested we test another cup of its coffee.
Starbucks also said, "There are many variables that contribute to caffeine content from cup to cup."
One cup of decaf coffee might not be a big deal, but University of Florida researchers said they can add up.
"If someone drinks five to 10 cups of decaffeinated coffee, the dose of caffeine could easily reach the level present in a cup or two of caffeinated coffee," said Bruce Goldberger with the University of Florida. "This could be a concern for people who are advised to cut their caffeine intake, such as those with kidney disease or anxiety disorders."
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)