The Clean Label Project, an organization committed to exposing hidden risks that don’t appear on labels, just released a new study on caffeinated coffee, which may surprise many coffee drinkers. The newly published study tested 57 coffee products from 45 of the industry’s top-selling brands and found industrial and environmental contaminants in many coffee products that were labeled as organic.
Researchers detected traces of AMPA, a glyphosate byproduct, in 100% of organic samples, despite its use being prohibited in organic farming (yes, you heard that right). To learn more about the impact of this alarming organic coffee study, I got the scoop from Molly Hamilton, Executive Director of Clean Label Project. Here’s what she thinks consumers should know about the impact of this study and how to adopt a smarter way of shopping for coffee.
Why the study’s findings matter
“Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the U.S., generating USD $269.27 billion in 2024,” says Hamilton. “Over 1 billion people, worldwide, drink coffee every day – that’s about 12.6% of the world’s population.” Knowing this, the Clean Label Project launched this study to assess the overall contaminant load of the category.
The study identified traces of Aminomethylphosphonic acid, commonly referred to as “AMPA”. This chemical residue is created from the degradation or breakdown of glyphosate. Given the rising health concerns surrounding glyphosate, the Clean Label Project has been testing products for AMPA. Although the use of glyphosate is banned from use in organic certified products, the study found AMPA in every organic sample in the study, causing great concern for the accuracy behind coffee labeled as organic.
“The detection of AMPA in 100 percent of organic samples is a wake-up call, Hamilton says. “Whether from environmental runoff or legacy contamination, this finding highlights the need for stronger safeguards and greater transparency in our food system.”
This study also poses a major question to be addressed on a larger scale: If glyphosate is prohibited in organic farming, how can chemicals like AMPA still end up in organic coffee? Hamilton says there are still some sneaky ways AMPA could make its way into coffee.
- Some coffee growers may use AMPA to manage weeds around coffee bushes to make harvesting easier, a common practice in conventional farming.
- Glyphosate could contaminate the water supply and, in turn, contaminate nearby organic farms.
- Wind can also lead to cross-contamination from a conventional farm spraying glyphosate to an adjacent organic farm.
Shopping smarter for coffee
Though the study’s findings are alarming, Clean Label Project is also useful in helping consumers make informed decisions on how to reduce contaminant exposure while enjoying coffee. The purpose of these studies is not to worry consumers, but rather to help them shop smarter. To shop smarter for coffee, Hamilton recommends looking for CLP-certified brands, like Love Grown Coffee, and referencing findings on the website.
