Drinking decaf coffee has long been considered a safe way to enjoy a cup of joe for those cutting back on caffeine.

• But some environmental groups and lawmakers are raising alarms about the most common method used to decaffeinate coffee, Carly writes.

👀 Zoom in: Most coffee companies use the European method of making decaf coffee — Starbucks calls it the "direct contact method." It typically involves a controversial chemical: methylene chloride.

• Methylene chloride is considered a potential carcinogen by OSHA.

🫘 How it works: In the European method, coffee beans are steamed, and rinsed with methylene chloride. Then the liquid is removed, along with much of the caffeine.

• The coffee beans are then washed, steamed and roasted at temperatures that cause the liquids to evaporate, according to the National Coffee Association.
• This process removes about 97% or more of the caffeine in coffee beans. So instead of 96 mg of caffeine in a cup, it's more like 2 mg.

🔭 What we're watching: The FDA is looking at a petition brought this year by some groups, including the Environmental Defense Fund, to ban methylene chloride in food. The California Assembly is considering related legislation nicknamed the "Clean Coffee Act."

Reality check: The amount of methylene chloride present in decaf coffee was below the 10-parts-per-million FDA limit in a test conducted by the Clean Label Project, an environmental group.

The other side: National Coffee Association president and CEO Bill Murray says he hasn't seen compelling evidence from environmental groups that the European method is harmful and should be banned.

• Keep reading.

We talked last week about confusion over what a vegetable is. This week, we're looking at your state favorites, Carly writes.

• What we're watching: Cabbage didn't top any state lists. But it seems to be having a moment on restaurant menus.

📬 Are you planning to grill a trendy vegetable — like cabbage — over Memorial Day Weekend? Email Carly about your recipe (including your first and last names, and hometown) at [email protected]. You might be featured in an upcoming newsletter.