Does decaffeinated coffee have just as many antioxidants as regular coffee?

Decaffeinated coffee. Guidelines/standards/rules in USA and Europe ?

• Coffee still contains a small portion of caffeine after it has beeen decaffeinated. How much caffeine is allowed in decaffeinated coffee ? I am looking for the percentage for the United States with indication of the relevant regulation/standard and the organization/body issuing it. Ideal if same information is given for other countries (Europe/EU, Japan, Canada, Australia,...). However, this additional information is not a condition for the answer.

• Answer:

  Good evening Alsinger and thank you for the interesting question. Being a coffee drinker, I was suprised at how much caffiene I am drinking, just by drinking one cup of coffee a day. I always thought soda had more caffeine and tried to stay away from it as much as I could - I guess we all learned something tonight! According to sources listed below, the average cup of American-style coffee contains about 100 to 150 milligrams of caffeine while the average cup of decaf should range somewhere between 2 to 4 milligrams of caffeine per cup. Espresso: 100 mg Tea: 40 - 60 mg Jolt Cola: 58.8 mg Mountain Dew: 55.0 mg Plain Chocolate: 50 mg Coca - Cola: 45.6 mg Diet Cola: 45.6 mg Dr. Pepper: 39.6 mg Pepsi Cola: 37.2 mg Diet Pepsi: 35.4 mg Decaffeinated coffee: 2 - 4 mg 7 U: 0.0 mg Sources: Just About Coffee ( http://www.justaboutcoffee.com/index.php?file=caffeinecontent ) Cherry Hill Coffee ( http://www.cherryhillcoffee.com/fyi/fyi.html#Anchor-Caffeine-14210 ) = = = = = = = = = = " According to Commercial Item Description (CID) A-A-20213B , the United States Department of Agriculture mandates that decaffeinated coffee cannot contain more than 0.10 percent on a dry basis in the packaged item, as determined by Association of Analytical Communities (AAOC) International Official Method 979.1 1. However, a reduction in caffeine by 97.5% is the legally accepted method of calculation." Source: Coffee & Health ( http://thecoffeefaq.com/7health.html#caffeineindecaf ) "In the United States federal regulations require that in order to label coffee as "decaffeinated" that coffee must have had its caffeine level reduced by no less than 97.5 percent. Source: Coffee FAQ ( http://coffeefaq.com/coffaq6.htm#decaf ) = = = = = = = = = = "Arabica coffee contains 0.8-1.4% caffeine. In other words, it is naturally 98.6 to 99.2 percent caffeine free. That 1.1% average must be further reduced by 97.5 percent to be considered decaffeinated." Source: Coffee & Health ( http://thecoffeefaq.com/7health.html#caffeineindecaf ) "Panamanian coffee is about 1.36% caffeine by weight normally. This and many other arabica coffees are about 98.64% caffeine free even before anything is done to lower the caffeine content." Source: Coffee FAQ ( http://coffeefaq.com/coffaq6.htm#decaf ) "In European Community (EC) countries, roasted decaffeinated coffee may contain a caffeine residue of 0.1 percent and coffee extract 0.3 percent." Source: Europe by Mail ( http://www.europebymail.com/coffee/ ) = = = = = = = = = = Coffee trivia: * The first process for decaffeinating coffee was invented by Ludwig Roselius in 1905. Source: Science & Technology ( http://www.sciam.com/askexpert_question.cfm?articleID=0005A4DD-591F-1C72-9EB7809EC588F2D7 ) * Decaffeinated coffee accounts for about 10 percent of the world coffee market. Source: Food USA ( http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/productnews/news.asp?id=55311&k=scientists-try-to ) * Coffee drinking has been around since approximately 900 BC. Rhazes, an Arabic doctor, mentioned coffee in one of his writings. Source: Europe by Mail ( http://www.europebymail.com/coffee/ ) * "Researchers say they have engineered coffee plants that have 70 percent less caffeine than usual in their leaves." (See link for full article) Source: CBS News (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/06/18/health/main559277.shtml ) = = = = = = = = = = I hope this answers your question. If you would like clarification before rating my answer, please do not hesitate to ask! Nenna-GA Google Researcher