"Weren't They Supposed to Be Caffeine-Free?"... Decaffeinated Coffee, Consumer Perception vs. Reality

Decaffeinated Label Allowed with 90% Caffeine Removal
Consumer Groups Call for Adjustment Considering Foreign Standards

Up to 4.65mg of caffeine was detected in 'decaffeinated' capsule coffee sold on the market. This is significantly different from the zero-caffeine level that consumers expect.

According to the Fair Trade Commission on the 8th, the Busan Consumer Organization Council conducted safety, labeling, caffeine content tests, and consumer perception surveys on 15 decaffeinated capsule coffee products sold on the market.

The products surveyed were ▲Garabaldi (Garabaldi Decaffeinado) ▲Cararo (Dolce Gusto Compatible Capsule Decaffein) ▲Nescafe (Nescafe Dolce Gusto Lungo Decaffein) ▲Dunkin (Dunkin Decaffein Blend Capsule) ▲Lavazza (Lavazza Deck) ▲Vitoria (Vitoria Coffee Decaffein Capsule Coffee) ▲Starbucks (Decaf Blonde Espresso Roast) ▲Italian Coffee (Italian Coffee Capsule Decaffein) ▲Illy (21 Capsule Decaffein) ▲Jardin (Jardin Reve Decaffein) ▲Kanu (Kanu Balance Decaffein) ▲Cabin It (Cabin It Decaffein) ▲Twosome Place (Tour Airist Capsule Coffee SWP Decaffein Blend) ▲Tre Venezzia (Tre Venezzia Capsule Coffee Decaffeinato) ▲Hollys Coffee (Hollys Capsule Coffee Decaffein Blend).

The test evaluation results showed that all products met the relevant standards for safety and labeling.

However, caffeine content varied by product, ranging from 1.35 to 4.65 mg per capsule. Cabin It Decaffein had the lowest caffeine content at 1.35 mg, followed by Hollys Coffee, Nescafe, and Twosome Place.

The highest was the Illy product at 4.65 mg, showing a maximum difference of 3.3 mg between products. This corresponds to 0.3-1.2% of the maximum recommended daily intake of 400 mg for adults.

Additionally, there was some discrepancy between consumers' perception of decaffeinated coffee standards and the actual labeling standards.

According to the consumer perception survey on decaffeinated coffee, 74% recognized coffee with a caffeine removal rate of 97% or higher as decaffeinated coffee.

The European Union (EU) allows labeling as decaffeinated when 99% is removed, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) allows it when 97% or more is removed. However, under the current domestic standard, decaffeinated labeling is permitted if caffeine content is reduced by 90% or more.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety requires the phrase 'high caffeine content' to be displayed only on liquid foods containing 0.15 mg or more of caffeine per 1 ml.

The Busan Consumer Organization Council stated, "Since decaffeinated coffee may still contain some caffeine, it is necessary to implement labeling measures that allow consumers to easily check caffeine content," and added, "It is also necessary to consider adjusting the caffeine removal rate standard by taking into account consumer perception and foreign standards."

They added, "Because consumers cannot know the caffeine content of decaffeinated coffee, it is necessary to label the caffeine content on decaffeinated capsule coffee as well."