UN: Coffee no longer seen as possible carcinogen

LONDON — The World Health Organization’s research arm has downgraded its classification of coffee as a possible carcinogen, declaring there isn’t enough proof to show a link to cancer.

But the International Agency for Research on Cancer, or IARC, also said in a report published last week that drinking “very hot” beverages of any kind could potentially raise the cancer risk. In particular, it cited countries including China, Iran and those in South America, where teas including the bitter herbal infusion mate, are traditionally drunk at extremely high temperatures — above 65 or 70 degrees Celsius — considerably hotter than drinks would normally be served in cafés across North America and Europe.