Coke, Pepsi contain cancer-causing coloring: Watchgroup
Wednesday, Mar 07, 2012
The China Post/Asia News Network
The China Post/Asia News Network
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a US-based nonprofit watchdog group, said Monday that both Coke and Pepsi colas contain high levels of 4-methylimidazole (4-MI), a carcinogen which forms when ammonia or ammonia and sulfites are used to manufacture the caramel coloring that gives the sodas their distinctive brown colors, according to the CSPI.
The CSPI said the National Toxicology Program (NTP), a division of the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences conducted animal studies concerning 4-MI. The NTP concluded that 4-MI can cause lung, liver and thyroid cancer, as well as leukemia, in laboratory mice or rats.
NTP found there is "clear evidence" that 4-MI are animal carcinogens, according to CSPI.
The CSPI found that in Washington-area stores, Pepsi's products had 145 and 153 micrograms (mcg) of 4-MI in two 12-ounce cans. Regular Coke had 142 mcg per 12 ounces in one sample and 146 mcg in another. Diet Coke had 103 mcg per 12 ounces in one sample and 113 mcg in another.
The state of California requires warning labels on any foods or beverages containing more than 29 mcg of 4-MI - a limit far lower than the levels found in Coke and Pepsi products.
The CSPI estimated that the 4-MI in Coke and Pepsi is responsible for thousands of cancer cases in the US every year.
US Regulators Say 4-MI Within Safety Limit
The US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) limit for 4-MI in caramel coloring is 250 parts per million (PPM), which is 1,000 times more than the amount the CSPI found in Coke and Pepsi products.
The FDA, citing the results of giving 4-MI to mice, said that 1,000 cans of Coke or Pepsi would be required to reach the amount needed to cause cancer in mice.
In accordance with the FDA's standpoint, the American Beverage Association argued that there is no experiment confirming that 4-MI can cause cancer in human beings.
Deng Jou-Fang, administrative officer of Taipei Veterans General Hospital, stated that the result of animal experiments cannot be directly applied to human beings.
Since the population drinking Coke or Pepsi is so large and people have been drinking the beverages for so long, an epidemiological study can easily confirm whether there is any causality between drinking the colas and having cancer, Deng said.
Both companies use the chemical to make their caramel colouring and have ordered their suppliers to change their manufacturing process in order to exclude the potentially harmful substance.
However, the companies and the industry’s umbrella organization, the American Beverage Association (ABA), denied that the traditional recipe was harmful.
"While we believe that there is no public health risk that justifies any such change, we did ask our caramel suppliers to take this step so that our products would not be subject to the requirement of a scientifically unfounded warning," Coke said in a statement.
"The science simply does not show that 4-MEI in foods or beverages is a threat to human health," said the ABA, which claimed that "a person would need to drink more than 2,900 cans of cola every day for 70 years" to replicate the results of the only test which showed a possible cancer risk from 4-MEI.//DPA
Coke and Pepsi tweak cola to avoid cancer warnings
Los Angeles - Soft drink giants Coke and Pepsi said Friday that they were adjusting the caramel colouring in their cola drinks to avoid having to place cancer warning labels on their cans and bottles.
The move came in response to a decision by health authorities in California that high levels of 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI) would cause cancer in lab animals.Both companies use the chemical to make their caramel colouring and have ordered their suppliers to change their manufacturing process in order to exclude the potentially harmful substance.
However, the companies and the industry’s umbrella organization, the American Beverage Association (ABA), denied that the traditional recipe was harmful.
"While we believe that there is no public health risk that justifies any such change, we did ask our caramel suppliers to take this step so that our products would not be subject to the requirement of a scientifically unfounded warning," Coke said in a statement.
"The science simply does not show that 4-MEI in foods or beverages is a threat to human health," said the ABA, which claimed that "a person would need to drink more than 2,900 cans of cola every day for 70 years" to replicate the results of the only test which showed a possible cancer risk from 4-MEI.//DPA
Caramel colouring is safe, says Coca-Cola
SINGAPORE - Coca-cola Singapore has come forward to "set the record straight", by affirming that the caramel colouring in its beverage is safe.
"The caramel colour in all of our products has been, is and always will be safe," a Coca-Cola Singapore spokesman said in a press statement yesterday.
The spokesman said its caramel manufacturers have been asked to "modify their production process to reduce the amount of 4-MEI in the caramel" and that the changes "will not affect the colour or taste of Coca-Cola".
The statement follows recent reports in the United States that Coca-Cola and Pepsi will reduce the amount of 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI) in the caramel colouring used to produce their beverages.
In doing so, they are complying with an updated requirement set by California's Proposition 65, which aims to protect state residents from "chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm, and to inform citizens about exposures to such chemicals".
By modifying the production process, Coca-Cola and Pepsi will avoid having to put cancer- warning labels on product packages.
"Regulators throughout the world, including Singapore's Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA), have approved the use of the caramel found in our products," said the Coca-Cola Singapore
spokesman. AVA confirmed yesterday that "caramel is a permitted colouring in Singapore".
As a precautionary measure, it has "taken samples of Coca- Cola, Pepsi and other products containing caramel, for testing to ensure that they comply with our requirements".
A spokesman for PepsiCo told my paper that "there is no scientific evidence that 4-MEI in foods and beverages is a threat to human health", adding that "consumers have no reason at all for any health concerns".
"The caramel colour in all of our products has been, is and always will be safe," a Coca-Cola Singapore spokesman said in a press statement yesterday.
The spokesman said its caramel manufacturers have been asked to "modify their production process to reduce the amount of 4-MEI in the caramel" and that the changes "will not affect the colour or taste of Coca-Cola".
The statement follows recent reports in the United States that Coca-Cola and Pepsi will reduce the amount of 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI) in the caramel colouring used to produce their beverages.
In doing so, they are complying with an updated requirement set by California's Proposition 65, which aims to protect state residents from "chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm, and to inform citizens about exposures to such chemicals".
By modifying the production process, Coca-Cola and Pepsi will avoid having to put cancer- warning labels on product packages.
"Regulators throughout the world, including Singapore's Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA), have approved the use of the caramel found in our products," said the Coca-Cola Singapore
spokesman. AVA confirmed yesterday that "caramel is a permitted colouring in Singapore".
As a precautionary measure, it has "taken samples of Coca- Cola, Pepsi and other products containing caramel, for testing to ensure that they comply with our requirements".
A spokesman for PepsiCo told my paper that "there is no scientific evidence that 4-MEI in foods and beverages is a threat to human health", adding that "consumers have no reason at all for any health concerns".