Cancer-causing soft drinks: America, Europe

Benzene is a chemical in the list of toxic substances that may increase the risk of cancer, especially leukaemia.

Benzene, the result of a reaction between sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) preservatives in beverages, becomes a cancer risk. In the photo: Model of benzene molecular structure - C6H6 Since 1990, the US Food and Drug Administration FDA has warned the US beverage industry about the content of benzene in high freshwater from 2, 5 to 5 times the World Health Organization's allowable limit for drinking water is 10ppb (parts per billion - parts per billion).

However, the issue has not been made public because the beverage industry has promised to change its formulation to limit this toxic substance.

Hide information is not a good solution

According to an FDA memorandum, from December 1990, the agency was informed by Cadbury Schweppess and Koala Springs, Australia, freshwater companies about the risk of benzene in fresh water.

This information was raised at the FDA and the US National Beverage Association (NSDA), representing freshwater producers such as Coca-cola, PepsiCo and cadbury Schweppes.

Manufacturers have a promise to change the formula to eliminate the risk, so the problem is kept.

In 1993, the FDA held a test but found no problems. However, since then, there have been more new producers who may not have known this information.

Glen Lawrence - one of the chemists who has tested benzene for the FDA in the early 1990s (Photo: VNN) In addition, this information is not widely available to catch attention for other countries to stop in time. . Since January 2002, there have been more than 1,500 beverage products containing sodium benzoate and vitamin C or citric acid circulating in Europe, Latin America, and North America.

Is or is not toxic carcinogen in fresh water?

The problem arises because the two ingredients that are still common in soft drinks are sodium benzoate preservative and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) can react with each other to form benzene.

Sodium benzoate, symbol E211, or 211 is often used as a preservative in the food industry. Ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, found in fruits and vegetables, and fruit juices, is also often added to food and drinks as an antioxidant that extends the life of the product.

Glen Lawrence reactive mechanism - one of the chemists who tested benzene for FDA in the early 1990s, explained:

Soft drinks (Photo: VNN)

1, At first, ascorbic acid acts with iron and copper metal in the water to form hydrotic free radicals.

2, At the same time sodium benzoate in acidic environment of fresh water, give benzoic acid.

3, The hydroxyl radicals will attack benzoic acid, separate CO2 to form benzene.

According to lawrence, this reaction can occur in drinks as well as foods that contain sodium benzoate and vitamin C, including natural vitamin C found in fruit juice. Therefore, fruit juices as well as soft drinks with vitamin C should not use preservative sodium benzoate.

Currently, this problem is a fever in the US and European countries. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is conducting an investigation following the test results of 230 freshwater samples, showing that the average benzene content is higher than the permissible level in drinking water. France and Germany are also moving .

Meanwhile, according to the list of approved additives used in food of the Ministry of Health, sodium benzoate and benzoic acid are still allowed to be used in beverage products such as vinegar, pickled fruit sugar, in canned nectar fruits, in soft drinks, sports drinks, herbal drinks .