The reason why we see methylene chloride listed in the Code of Federal Regulation as regulated food additives, even though they're lsited as carcinogens by the National Toxicology PRogram, International Agency for Research on Cancer, and in California under Prop. 65 is because of the Delaney Clause.

Is it carcinogenic?  I don't know.  But it is still "bad" in the sense that you can get carboxyhemoglobin.  But remember, all things can be toxic...just depends on the dose.

Hans Shin
Pacific Testing Laboratories, Inc.
http://www.pacifictesting.com/

"Kasprzak, Bill (sys) USX" wrote:
>
> Anybody look on a container of decaf coffee lately? One of the ingredients
> used in the process, is Methlylene Chloride. See web info below
>
> As with all decaffeination processes, the direct method begins with soaking
> green unroasted beans. The beans are then flushed with methylene chloride
> (DCM), a solvent that is generally used in direct contact with the beans. As
> the DCM soaks through all parts of the bean, the caffeine is drawn out. The
> U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers the DCM residual levels in
> this decaffeination process low enough to be acceptable. The FDA, however,
> and the National Cancer Institute have both linked DCM to cancer in
> laboratory animals. In 1989 the FDA banned DCM for use in cosmetics and hair
> sprays.
>
> Who says, not easy to get.
>
> No decaf for me.
>
> Bill Kasprzak
> Moog Inc.

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