Benzene Found In Many Soda and Juice Drinks
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 03. 1.06
Recently, the FDA confirmed that they have found benzene (a carcinogen) in several popular sodas and juices. The Environmental Working Group EWG, which published a report on the problem, is advising consumers to avoid products that contain both ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and either sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate.
According to EWG, in 1990, the FDA learned that certain soft drinks marketed to children contain two ingredients that can mix in the soda to form the toxic carcinogen benzene. The Agency didn't tell the public, but instead merely asked companies to voluntarily change their formulas to eliminate the problem.
So far in 2006, two news outlets have reported that the Agency is again testing soft drinks, finding benzene sometimes at levels above the safe limit for drinking water, and asking companies to change their formulas.
On February 24 and February 27, 2006, EWG staff found many juices and sodas at major national retail outlets containing the ingredients that can form benzene.
:: Via EWG
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Good to know our government has its citizens best interest in mind.
The tone coming out of EWG is slightly alarmist, despite their own admission that "...the actual levels of benzene formed in these products may be at trace levels and within legal limits for drinking water. EWG has no information indicating that benzene is actually present in any of these products at any level..."
You can't just throw a bunch of chemicals together and expect a reaction, and in this case benzene is as likely to form spontaneously as... a talking frog. Even trace amounts as small as ppb can be detected through mass spectrometry.
If parents aren't going to be responsible and withhold these sodas from their kids because of the massive amounts of sugar, high fructrose corn syrup, and sodium, then the infinitesmal risk of cancer from benzene that doesn't actually exist isn't going to stop them either.
Anytime you see the prefix :"benz" in the additives or ingredients list (except Mercedes) the question ought to be "why are they adding this and do I really need it?" Generally it will have been to keep flavor and color intact. You can accomplish the same thing by adding a few splashes of fruit juice to some carbonated water or plain water: e.g. it will be fresh.
Organic reactions at a cold temps with dilute reactants are slow and incomplete, so it is fair to assume that only a few percent of the total milligrams of benzoate added as preservative would ever be able to convert to benzene, even if the drink were left warm for a long time.
I agree with previous commenter that the primary risk factor here is sugar consumption. THe secondary one is the energy and C02 burden from needless use of plastic bottles. Make the last one primary in fact!
Well, it's clear how powerful the soda manufacturers are that the brand names are not revealed. Any other product with dangerous levels of a non-food substance would be named and called out into the street!
hi