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Is the plastic used in Keurig K-Cups safe?

by Rosemary
(Toronto)


QUESTION:

I love the convenience of using my K-Cup brewer, but have some concerns about the plastic in the K-Cups. When the hot water goes through the K-Cup during the brewing process, are any chemicals leached out into the cup of coffee?

I’m particularly concerned about BPA.


ANSWER:

Rosemary, hi

You are one of several people who have expressed concern about BPA in the plastic used in K-Cups.

The short answer is no, there is no BPA in K-Cups. No worries on that score.

To get a more complete answer, I spoke with the folks at Green Mountain Coffee and they provided me with the text of their own FAQ on this and related topics. I hope you find it useful, and reassuring.

Here is what they sent me:

First a quick review:

1) The K-Cup package is made up of three main elements -- the cup itself, a layer of filter paper and an aluminum foil top.

2) The cups themselves aren’t recyclable, yet, but they’re working on it.

3) Technically speaking, the plastic in the cups is #7 – meaning it’s a mix of plastics (as opposed to just one kind of plastic). This is what makes it a problem for recycling. It’s also what makes it bullet proof in terms of protecting and preserving the coffee inside.

4) The K-Cups are nitrogen-flushed, sealed for freshness, and impermeable to oxygen, moisture and light.


Here are some of the questions that come to the Call Center and to the Coffee Department:

Question: “I was wondering if the k pods or the water heating chamber are made of a plastic which can leach BPA (Bisphenol A)? I don’t see a recycle number on them and was curious about this.”

Answer: “We do use a variety of plastics in our Brewers and some contain BPA. However, as you may be aware, the FDA recently reviewed its safety standards associated with BPA and has, again, affirmatively stated that products containing BPA currently on the market are safe. For more information on this recent FDA pronouncement, you may want to check out the following link: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/bpa.html

(BPA is the acronym for Bispenol A – a common ingredient in many plastics used to handle food and water. It gets in the news every now and then because of fears it might be unsafe, contrary to the FDA’s findings.)


Question: “Do the packaging materials used in K-Cups have any BPA in it?”

Answer: “No – the K-Cup packaging contains no BPA.”

Question: “Does the Cold Water Reservoir in a Keurig Brewer contain any BPA?”

Answer: The Cold Water Reservoirs in Keurig brewers do not contain BPA.

Question: “Besides the Cold Water Reservoir, are there any parts in a Keurig Brewer which contact the beverage that contain BPA?”

Answer: We use a variety of plastics in our Brewers and some of the parts that contact the beverage do contain BPA. However, as you may be aware, the FDA recently reviewed its safety standards associated with BPA and has, again, affirmatively stated that products containing BPA currently on the market are safe. For more information on this recent FDA pronouncement, you may want to check out the following link: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/bpa.html. In addition we regularly review the components used in our products to ensure that they are safe in every way, as well as meet or exceed applicable FDA standards.

Question: “We have started using your coffees in the little plastic cups for a special machine that someone ordered for our office. We compost 80% of our trash and cannot figure out what to do with the little cups after that are used? Is the plastic bio-degradable or compostable? If not, what is it - I can't recycle because it has no markings on the bottom identifying what it is. Also, if the foil lids had a small tab we could peel it off and dump the used grounds into our compostable containers. We have over 30 employees and this system seems to be not very environmentally friendly. As we are working towards zero waste, the little cups don't fit in with current trends.”

Answer: the K cups are a mix of plastic, with a foil top and are neither recyclable nor compostable (unless you took the 9-11 grams out of every k cup and put it in the compost pile). According to SPI Guidelines, the plastic would be labeled a “7” – which is a catch-all category for newer plastics and combinations of plastics.

Comments for
Is the plastic used in Keurig K-Cups safe?

Click here to add your own comments

Jan 06, 2012
The dumbing down of America
by: Anonymous

Please, can't you people relax? My Grandpa is in his 90's and sharp as a tack. If everything is poisonous, why do we live as long as we do? Hell, my parents are in their seventies and are perfectly healthy. I drink two Keurig cups of coffee a day and love every single one. I then smoke two cigarettes and watch TV for six hours. I am being facetious with the smokes and laziness, but I doubt most people here will get it. Also, save your rants about the planet. It is so 1991. As George Carlin said: "The planet is fine... the people are fucked! The planet isn't going anywhere... we are!"

Dec 28, 2011
Wake up
by: Concerned Joe

OF COURSE PLASTIC COFFEE MAKERS LEACH. Keurig even states that parts of their makers that come in contact with the beverage contain BPA. It doesn't matter if the FDA comes out with a report that BPA isnt as harmful as previously thought because the FDA is a famously unscrupulous agency that has a long history of cover ups and swindling of consumers. FDA COVER UP was uncovered not to long ago.. " The FDA has been embroiled in similar scandals over the years by failing to enforce federal laws because doing so would negatively affect the profits of the wealthy companies that pay the agency hundreds of millions of dollars in “fees.” The deplorable negligence was even the subject of a congressional investigation that determined the FDA !!!!!!allows companies that annually pay it more than $400 million in fees to compromise public safety."!!!!!!!

Temperatures for coffee and the plastics in the makers DO NOT mix well. The higher the heat, the more plastic breaks down. That's why plastic feels more pliable after heating. Keurig is no different... YOu surely dont think they use the highest qualtiy plastics? It's a business established for profit. The MY K-Cup filter uses cheap cheap plastic....

Dec 26, 2011
cancer causing warning
by: Anonymous

In the owners manual there is a WARNING saying the the Keurig product contains chemicals, including lead, which is known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.

Is the chemicals and lead in the K-cups or in the machine itself?

Dec 19, 2011
What me, worry?
by: Anonymous

Yes, actually. Newsflash: #7 plastic isn't recyclable. And aside from the potential BPA, and as someone else pointed out, styrene, there are also phthalates to be concerned about. All of these, especially when in contact with hot liquids, can and do leach into the coffee you are drinking. These chemicals can interfere with the hormonal system, thyroid function, and may bioaccumlate in our fat stores. I don't know about you, but if I can prevent that from happening when I just want a cup of coffee--a naturally-occurring plant product and water--I probably won't use K-Cups or Keurig brewing machines or any other plastic-based brewer.

Dec 16, 2011
reusable my cup may not be the solution
by: Anonymous

What about the plastic material in the reusable filter? Is that safe to use with boiling hot liquid?

Dec 14, 2011
worrying about plastic
by: melismo2

If you lived in a place with no radon,no pollution, no acid rain, no dangerous ultraviolet light, then worrying about #6 and #7 plastic would make sense.But it's not going to be the plastic that does you in.Even the person who suggested the Melitta ceramic cone does not know for sure that there is no lead in it. And let's also remember that if you were the health freak you think you are, you would be against coffee.Life is short...be temperate...but stop worrying about each and everything being bad for your health.You are going to die no matter what and it may be from some genetic cause.Won't you feel silly that you were afraid of a coffee reservoir and a tiny plastic cup ?

Dec 12, 2011
I'd spend the extra for non plastic parts!
by: Anonymous

I'd send the extra $50-$75, for glass or stainless steel parts in these machines. I just bought my wife the Keurig Platinum over the weekend, and wasn't to happy that the water reservoir was made out of Polystyrene. I guess I just won't let the water sit in the reservoir for a prolonged amount of time. The bottom line is we're surrounded by plastics!

Dec 09, 2011
El Pablo steers clear of plastics & liquids
by: Anonymous

El Pablo (pihlenfe) will steer clear of any products that contain plastics & liquids combination! The USA-FDA does not really help here either since they are more for corporations & the 1% and less for the 99% of everyday regular folks. No Keurig or K-cups or whatever they call it for El Pablo!

Dec 05, 2011
Does it leach styrene?
by: Anonymous

Why is everyone only talking about BPA? Wouldn't the risk be styrene? If the water reservoir is recycle code #6, it's polystyrene. Styrene is a suspected carcinogen, and a suspected toxin to the gastrointestinal, kidney, and respiratory systems, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Shouldn't water that comes out of a Keurig be tested for styrene?

Dec 04, 2011
WHAT?!
by: Anonymous

Of COURSE they're going to tell you it doesn't contain BPA. Because they want to sell them to you. ANYthing with plastic emits stuff because it's PLASTIC. Buy a melitta ( sp? ) ceramic cone filter and be done with it. Your life is much more valuable than that cup o' joe. Really, I care more about you than Keurig does. Buy the ceramic filter. Your coffee tastes WAYYY better and it is wayyy cheaper. Please don't be fooled by these posts that tell you the product is safe. Err on the side of caution and throw out, or take back the Keurig.

~ A concerned fellow man

Nov 27, 2011
Recycle #6 on bottom of water reservoir
by: Anonymous

I bought a B60 from Target just because it said it was BPA free on outside of box. It is actually my 2nd one after the first one conked out in less than a year. I use filter water for everything in the house and noticed a weird metallic plastic chemical taste with the coffee to the point of being undrinkable. I went to amazon.com and qvc to see if other reviewers say same. There was and some recommended cleaning the reservoir with vinegar or baking soda. I pulled mine out and see a #6 on bottom which is known to leach harmful toxins and to top it off the World Health Org suspects #6 as a carcinogen. Thanks Keurig for making me think I am buying something healthy. With all the links to cancer and endocrine dysfunction with some plastics I am not very happy right now.

Nov 24, 2011
They're Safe
by: Dr. Sean

As a PhD chemist, I feel safe in saying that Plastic #7, while inconvenient for recycling, can be made of plastics that will not leach BPA. I have no doubt that Keurig know that their plastics do not contain materials that would leech BPA.

I decided to test the cups using GC/MS and LC/MS. I also tested the cups with proton NMR. The cups themselves contain no BPA. When I test water that is run through the coffee maker without a K cup inside, I detect extremely low levels of BPA. (We are talking parts per billion to many parts per trillion). As a chemist, I am all for banning BPA. I feel that it is unsafe. That being said, I feel safe drinking from the Keurig coffee makers after having tested their output.

Nov 03, 2011
#7, but no BPA?
by: Anonymous

The Keurig comment that the cups contain NO BPA, yet are plastic #7 is very confusing. I know that #7 is a mix of different types of plastic, so basically they're declaring that no BPA plastics are used in the composition of their plastic #7. Are we to trust them, or trust the manufacturer who tells them they don't use BPAs? Hmmm. There are lots of other coffee makers out there, and most are more environmentally-friendly to boot. Why take a chance?

Oct 04, 2011
k-cup plastic
by: Anonymous

Isn't #7 plastic the most toxic plastic?

May 14, 2011
K-Cups and BPA
by: Anonymous

You state they are made from # 7 plastic and are safe because they do not contain BPA. sorry to say this but it does not seem correct.
Read about # 7 and see if it makes any difference.
And sure the FDA states it's ok...sure they do.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely produced chemical used primarily for the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. More than 6 billion pounds of BPA are produced and used each year for this purpose. The use of this chemical is so profound that it was detected in the urine in 93% of the population over 6 years of age. The study did not include anyone under 6 years of age, so the level in their urine is unknown.

Polycarbonate plastics are typically hard and clear and are marked with the resin identification code number 7. As mentioned previously, the number 7 is considered the "other" category and includes chemicals other than bisphenol A. Nalgene water bottles were made with BPA until recently. They are being voluntarily pulled from the shelves and replaced by bottles that are BPA-free made with a relatively new plastic called Tritan copolyester. Other sources of polycarbonate are food and drink packaging, including infant bottles, toddler sipping cups, tableware, and food containers. Epoxy resins are used to line metal products such as canned foods, bottle tops, and water supply pipes.



May 08, 2011
To Editor regarding plastic #6
by: Anonymous

You're wondering how the Keurig water tank can be #6 when it doesn't seem to be made of polystyrene. Here's a direct quote from Badplastics.com;

"Another important thing to know about polystyrene is that it isn?t always used in its foamed form. Polystyrene is also used in a solid form, as a clear or colored plastic. Solid polystyrene is used, for example, in disposable cutlery, some yogurt cups and clear containers for cakes and other baked items."

Feb 05, 2011
Mr. Coffee
by: Anonymous

Mr. Coffee BVMC-KG1 Single Serve Brewing System, Silver

has no plastic chamber with # 6. Can use the mesh my k-cup instead of the plastic ones. Hoping this solves the plastic issues and BPA issues, but don't know if this model is BPA free. Here's hoping! Mr. Coffee has been around forever.

Feb 04, 2011
Plastics in Brewers
by: Anonymous

Keurig and Breville water chambers are marked with a number 6 on the bottom-which means may contain benzene. I am going to take mine back. Anyone have a chamber that is not labeled 6?

Feb 03, 2011
Plastic dangers of #6 and #7
by: Anonymous

UGHH!!! I just purchased the Keurig and tons of coffee and tea and hot cocoa. It has both #6 in the reservoir and #7 in the k-cups. #6 and #7 both have health concerns. #6 has benzene, and while #7 does not necessarily have BPA, it does have an estrogen mimicker which is linked to breast cancer. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/319161/how_safe_is_your_plastic_container.html?cat=5

Why didn't I research this first? Save your health and money.

Feb 02, 2011
Plastics
by: Anonymous

Plastic #7 is predominately polycarbonate which harbors BPA. No way around it... NONE. Even worse is plastic #3 (dubbed the toxic plastic), which is polyvinyl chloride (the name sounds yummy doesn't it?), or our old friend PVC. The sometimes corrupt and always inept USFDA has said that long term exposure to DHEA (one of several plastizers used in it's production) can lead to: reduced body weight and bone mass; damage to liver and testes and cancer. YAAAAY! And to clarify Green Mountain makes billions not millions so they will tell you whatever they want to keep you buying their convenient but wholly mediocre coffee. That said great company, great idea, I own their stock (total hypocrite :-), go capitalism!

Jan 03, 2011
to Plastic Taste
by: Anonymous

Run a water cycle brew through the brewer 1-2 times and this will get rid of the plastic taste.


I work for a brewer company.

Dec 31, 2010
Plastic Taste
by: totalpi@yahoo.com

In my new single serve Keurig coffee maker when I make a cup of anything with it it comes out with a heavy plastic taste. What is this? I can't stand it, it's disgusting!!!

Dec 16, 2010
Horses Mouth
by: Anonymous

Getting an answer about the problems associated with a company's product that produces 80% of the profit for said company is a bit like asking an only child who made the mess in their bedroom.

They know the answer, but they will make up every story they can think of, to put off cleaning up the mess.

Dec 10, 2010
To Editor regarding plastic #6 on B60
by: Anonymous

The new units of B60 in various retailed stores including B*dbathandbeyond, S*m's club, etc. are all clearly marked with the #6 recycle plastic symbol. Go check it out yourself.

Dec 08, 2010
K-cups and #7 plastic
by: Anonymous

In the above Q and A section it says that K-cups do not have BPA, but then states that they are made out of #7 plasic which is a combination of plastic. This means that it is unknown! I don't know how they can say a firm NO to that question. There could be BPA and many other chemicals in #7 plasic. In my reasurch I've learned that the most dangerous plastic is #3, #6, and #7.


Nov 29, 2010
keurig water reservoir danger
by: Anonymous

The water reservoir on the kurig doesn not have
BPA. I chose to return my Kurig since the water reservoir has plastic # 6 which is TOXIC.

Editor?s Note: I find your observation a little odd, for a couple of reasons. First, as far as I can see, the Keurig water reservoir isn?t marked with a recycling number. At least, the reservoir on my B60 isn?t. Second, recycling #6 is the designation for polystyrene, and the water reservoir certainly isn?t made from polystyrene. (You can learn more about dangerous plastics, and BPA-free coffee makers at BadPlastics.com.)


Nov 28, 2010
BPA Presence
by: Anonymous

In the official references provided above, it was stated that the "packaging" of the K-Cups contained no BPA. This doesn't mean the cups themselves were said to be BPA-free...

Nov 25, 2010
BPA
by: Anonymous

I?ve recently converted our office over to a Bodecker Brewer that uses a recyclable aluminum pod. I can state that I find the taste far superior to the K-Cups. I talked to Todd at Bodecker Brewed and he stated that due to the fact they have no concern regarding BPA in their pod they can brew at a higher temperature, which in turn produces a better cup of coffee.

Oct 22, 2010
BPA (pregnant female esp)
by: Anonymous

The BPA issue needs more attention. Many pregnant or breast feeding females may be drinking decaf for health reasons and be unaware of the other risks. People need to post on maternity forums.

See the following thread:
http://www.singleservecoffeeforums.com/bpa-t8045.html
Joe

Oct 20, 2010
BPA....Let's get to the truth
by: Anonymous

BPA is NOT safe. The companies that make the cups have a "POSITION STATEMENT" for that exact question....there are millions of dollars at stake here so OF COURSE they are going to tell you that BPA is safe.

I'm not saying that the Keurig K-cups are unsafe...but guys, lets get educated and look elsewhere for answers. We owe it to ourselves and our health.

Editor's note: More info on this topic, and answers at - BPA-free coffee makers which, for the most part, have no plastic parts.

Sep 20, 2010
My K-Cup Filter
by: Anonymous

The concern of Plastic in K-Cups is on everyones mind as is the waste thrown in the landfills. Those comments are all valid and it shows that consumers are thinking about the long term results. The My K-Cup re-usable filter answers some of these concerns, but it makes it less convenient..lets face it we bought into single cup for variety & convenience. This is where I found the best answer to both concerns...USE PODS- of the SOFT PACK variety. Pods have been around since the late 60's and offer the freshness and variety without the plastic. Its filter paper & Coffee- just open up the pods and pour the coffee into your My-K-Cup filter. THe Pods keep fresh and are half the price of the K-Cups.

Sep 07, 2010
Water in your Keurig
by: Nick (CoffeeDetective)

Dixiehearts, hi

If my Keurig has been sitting idle for a while, I just run run once it without a K-Cup...so the water in the machine comes out and is replaced by fresh. Then I brew my next coffee.

Nick

Sep 07, 2010
bateria growth.
by: dixiehearts

How do you empty the water chamber after it is pumped to the other side, how is bacteria kept from groing in the water, if I don.t use for a couple of days it seams slimmy.
What about if it is preset to turn machine off , is it worse then.

Jul 28, 2010
Cafestol and K-Cups
by: Anonymous

Does anyone know if using the k-cups filters out "Cafestol"? I had a french press and read about the dangers of this and just bought the Keurig and still see the oils. Is that this Cafestol their talking about or do all coffee from coffee makers have oil at the top of the mug after brewing?

The new Keurig I bought says it's BPA free but now I'm concerened about the cups and this "Cafestol"

Any help?

Jul 24, 2010
Now I'm confused even more.
by: Anonymous

Isn't that contradicting itself. Plastic's #7 & #3 contain BPA, so how is it, they say K-cups are BPA free and then state they are #7?

Editor's Note: Plastics marked #3 do not contain BPA. Plastics marked #7 include a variety of different plastics types, some of which contain BPA, and some of which don't. In other words, not all plastics marked with the number 7 include BPA. The Keurig K-Cups are BPA-free.

You can learn more about how to identify dangerous plastics at BadPlastics.com

Jul 16, 2010
Leeching/weird taste
by: Florenzo

BPA has been found in containers, foremost in softer and thinner plastic baby bottles (and that is the real concern). The container material leeches. at hot temperatures. These temperatures in Polycarbonate Containers and safety testing accordingly takes place with 220 degree F. Everything leeches, including your HDPE water bottles (especially), your milk bottles or 1 gallon containers, your glass containers, etc. But it does not necessarily leech all the time. Depending on the material, a product will leech at a lower temperature than in other materials, leeching at a higher temperature. So when your HDPE drinking water bottle is left in the car for a while and you come back to take a sip, you then will taste this funny bitter-weird tasting

Jun 13, 2010
Clorine taste in coffee
by: Dennis B

I don't believe that keurig doesn't know what kind of plastic the cup is made of. I think it's thermoformed PVC. We bought a cuisinart brewer for the cups, from bed bath and beyond. The coffee has a distinct strong clorine flavor as if the clorine is being leached out of the plastic cup. The coffee actually smelled like a swimming pool. The temp setting, which is user adjustable was set for 192f. Quite a high temp for PVC. The same coffee brewed in my basic, non adjustable keurig, was only 170f. This could be a possible reason why coffee tasted so bad we couldn't drink it and returned the coffee maker back to bby. The replacement deluxe keurig has same problem. That's why I did this test and think the problem is with brewing the plastic coffee cup with water too hot for PVC.
Is this possible? I Just posted this comment to keurig.

Apr 28, 2010
HEALTH CONCERNS
by: Anonymous

I understand that the paper filters are the only filters one should use with coffee because of the carcinogens . Is this true/

Apr 09, 2010
keurig and plastics
by: Anonymous

I just purchased the Keurig Coffee Maker from QVC and did not realize until I read the instructions after it arrived , that there was a warning due to chemicals/lead in the product. There should have been some mention of this instead of having people order the product and later find out that there is a risk. People go to all the trouble of ordering it and the carousel and additional k kups etc. , not to mention pay the money then to find out it can affect your health. It did not cross my mind until I saw the warning label in the instructions.
Some people may think it's nothing, but I work in a hospital and I see cancer patients all the time. It is not to be taken lightly.

Feb 19, 2010
metal insert
by: Karen

You can purchase the metal insert (found one at Kohl's for $10-15), buy regular ground coffee and fill the insert.

It kind of destroys the novelty of one-cup of coffee with no clean-up, but it is an alternative. Especially if you don't drink that much coffee.

Feb 18, 2010
#7 and "PC"
by: Sarah

Over and over in reports it states that plastics with "7" and/or "PC" are to be stayed away from.
Sadly, this means K-CUPs. 7 is really bad.
I wont be using K cups anymore. And I have a brewer at home and its all our company uses. I have consumed so many of these over the past 2 years I am sick to my stomach right now.

Editor's Note: The K-Cups themselves are not polycarbonate plastic, and do not contain BPA. We had this confirmed for us by the folks at Keurig.

Jan 27, 2010
Help
by: Anonymous

So does anyone have a suggestion for a coffe maker or, lattes and espresso machines that contain no bpa at all? I have the keurig and am now afraid to use it, are there any that are safe and effective? Please help, I need my coffee, but I dont want to be exposed

Jan 23, 2010
coffee and brother in law
by: Anonymous

you really need to check into the water that was being used in your brotherinlaws home. for possible radon and lead, i say this due to the increase of cancers linked to the water we drink
i know that fda changed what they were @1st stating on #7 plastic as dangerious, and now say it is ok to use but i do not belive what they are saying. i do think there is still a hazard in using #7 and the k cups need to change...fda lies about medicine they will lie about plastic to....
YES POEPLE BE CONCERNED ....WRITE THE MAKER OF KERIG K-CUPS AND TELL THEM TO CHANGE THE WAY THERE MADE...

Editor's Note: While you are right we should be concerned about BPA in plastics, you're not right about the K-Cups. According to a detailed reply from Keurig on this topic, there is no BPA in K-Cups. I believe them for a number of reasons, including the fact that the addition of BPA makes plastic rigid, and K-Cups are flexible. Also, according to Keurig, there is no BPA in the water tank. There are some other parts of the brewer that are made form polycarbonate plastic, which does include BPA.

Jan 20, 2010
I'd also like to add
by: Anonymous

I'd also like to add that a dog and owner cetainly share more in common than the coffee pot, they share the same environment, thus any number of environmental factors would need to be considered when determining any link.

Jan 09, 2010
Plastic leaching
by: Anonymous

True, but the K-cups are made of extremely thin plastic.

Cups don't even list the grade of plastic. Our "Newman's Own" simply says "W C150 625" on the bottom.

I have always read that the thinner the plastic, the more likely it leaches the chemicals. Plastic parts in coffee makers are thicker and seemingly more durable/less prone to leaching.



Jan 08, 2010
Melanoma
by: Anonymous

Melanoma is a skin cancer.

It was the sun that killed him, not the coffee.

And who gives their dog hot water from a coffee brewer anyway.

Sorry about your loss, but you have to be realistic about the associations you make. Most exposures to carcinogens take years to produce clinical cancer, not a few months.

Dec 14, 2009
K cup plastic and BPA
by: Anonymous

If I recall, most coffee brewers have a plastic filter cone. Might these not leach chemicals as well? I don't think the K cups killed that man and his dog. It probably was a coincidence. There are, alas, many coincidences in the world and they don't generally mean anything.

Nov 26, 2009
Soft pack pods-
by: Michael

We like the Soft pack pods for many of the reasons stated above. Pods have been around for many years in Europe & are the consumers choice for single cup coffee. In North America there hasnt been as much focus because the attempts to develop a good Pod Brewer has been slow & somewhat unsuccessful...until recently we have found the NEW SUN CAFE POD BREWER> we love this brewer for all the features and brewing system that delivers a superior cup of coffee every time.
The nice thing about PODs is that you dont have to deal with the plastic waste, it is filter paper & coffee grounds. Check out www.singleservecoffee.com & www.coffeegiant.com for info on this brewer. on youtube- Sun Cafe Pod Brewer.

Nov 14, 2009
"7" plastic is also includes polycarbonates with BPA
by: N in SoCal

Wow, this is very concerning as I really was interested in purchasing a Keurig. I will not after reading about the questionable plastic of the kcups and contact areas of brewer. Going by FDA safety is not necessarily good enough these days. They have recalled plenty of FDA approved drugs in the past.

Thank you for sharing this info.

NOTE: The FDA recently updated its position on BPA. More on the FDA's reversal about BPA here...

Aug 07, 2009
BPA in K-cups?
by: Karen

I have to say that I also am concerned about the possibility of BPA in the K-cups.

We received a Keurig coffee maker as a gift from my brother-in-law. He had been using this for 2-3 years, 1-2 cups of coffee per day, plus using it for hot water for tea and oatmeal. He also used the hot water for mixing dry dog food for his beloved pet.

I was thrilled with the novelty and convenience of our machine. My husband was not. He claimed that the coffee tasted of chemicals (I tried several different brands and variations, thinking it was the coffee brand. He suspects that plastic is leaching into the coffee during the keurig process.

It is difficult to place a connection. But My brother-in-law (the one that introduced us to the Keurig system) was the healthiest person that I knew (organic food, no sugars/sodas/sweets, worked out daily and was in prime physical health).

Recently, He was diagnosed with aggressive Melanoma (already progressed to his lymphatic system) and passed away within 2 months of diagnosis. Less than a month later, his dog died of liver cancer.

Coincidence????

The only thing the two shared was using the hot water through the Keurig coffee pot.

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