Science Behind Low Acid Coffee Claims - David vs. Goliath

DAVIS, Calif., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- A battle has developed in the coffee trade between industry leader Folgers® (owned by The J.M. Smucker® Company), and an upstart, Puroast® Low Acid Coffee. The lines are drawn around the estimated 35 million Americans who have stomach acid problems like acid reflux, heartburn, et al., who have had to eliminate their morning caffeine boost as they can't drink regular coffee because its high acid content upsets their stomachs. Folgers® is now promoting Simply Smooth in a global advertising program with Google, Amazon and Bing, as "Folgers® Low Acid Coffee" (1).  

Puroast Research – Two Scientific Studies  

Dr. Takayuki Shibamoto, a professor of Environmental Toxicology at the University of California, Davis and leading scientist in food safety, directed research that compared several leading brands of coffee found on US grocery shelves(2). One brand, Puroast® Low Acid Coffee, was found to have significantly lower acid than the analyzed coffees. Puroast® has "somewhere between 50 and 90% less acid content" than the other coffees, says Shibamoto. This includes Folgers® and Folgers® Simply Smooth.  

Shibamoto's pH analyses showed that, contrary to Folgers'® current advertising campaign, Folgers Simply Smooth® in fact has 12% more acid than Folgers® Regular Coffee.

The results of a second study by Dr. Arthur Euler, MD, a gastroenterologist who was on the R&D team that developed Zantac® antacid, showed that 90% of GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease) sufferers could drink Puroast® Low Acid Coffee without the usual stomach upset symptoms (3). This research is important for health practitioners such as gastroenterologists, general practice MDs, pharmacists and dieticians who advise people looking for solutions to the stomach problems they incur from drinking regular coffee.    

Science Behind Folgers® Simply Smooth – a company produced "fact sheet"

According to investigative reporting, Folgers® offers no independent scientific research to support its low acid claim. The Daily Democrat, a Woodland, California-based newspaper, asked Folgers® for their technical information on both their "low acid" and "stomach friendly" claims. Folgers® responded by providing a "fact sheet" which says... "Folgers Simply Smooth® [is] carefully roasted to remove certain irritants..."(4). They add that the "result of our research indicates ... Simply Smooth ... is easy on the stomach." To date Folgers® provides no independent chemical or medical research to the public documenting their "low acid" advertising claim or their labeling that Simply Smooth® is easy on the stomach.  

SOURCE Puroast Low Acid Coffee