Benzene found in "genki" drinks


Consumers Union of Japan has announced the results of its investigation into 21 popular soft drinks, vitamin drinks, and supplement drinks. 16 of the tested products were contaminated with the cancer-causing chemical benzene. More details here.

The source is thought to be common food additives such as benzoic acids (E201, E211, E212 and E213) used as preservatives. It has been known for a long time that benzoic acid can react with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) when it is added as an anti oxidant in soft drinks, forming benzene.

Consumers Union of Japan wants companies to stop selling such products and immediately stop the simultaneous use of the additives. CUJ also wants the Food Safety Commission and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to take measures to totally ban the simultaneous use of these additives in soft drinks, supplement drinks, cosmetics, etc.

Update: US FDA data and UK FSIS data (pdf) on benzene levels in softdrinks, both from 2006.

Comments

Pandabonium said…
The Ministry has refused to release all the data they have. Whose government is it anyway?

The US FDA did a study of beverages that ended a year ago and found none to very little (less that 1 ppb) in most drinks, but some were well over 10. Why drink this stuff (sodas, vitamin drinks) anyway?

Meanwhile, a ban those additives is a good idea.
3:25 pm, April 12, 2007
Martin J Frid said…
Yes, CUJ is asking for all data to be released. Taxpayers should have a right to see such information, one would think.
3:50 pm, April 12, 2007
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