Comments on: Would you like benzene in your soft drink?

Would you like benzene in your soft drink?

MLIS — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 07:22:31 -0800

FDA re-opens probe into benzene contamination of soft drinks US food safety authorities have re-opened an investigation closed 15 years ago into soft drinks contaminated with cancer-causing chemical benzene, following evidence the industry has failed to sort out the problem.

By: Faint of Butt

Faint of Butt — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 07:31:26 -0800

Two reactions: 1) Has anyone compiled a list of beverages containing both sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid, so I don't have to read every single damn label at the grocery store? 2) Thank the gods my beer and vodka are still safe.

By: crunchland

crunchland — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 07:40:15 -0800

Coca-cola seems to use potassium benzoate and citric acid.

By: zeoslap

zeoslap — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 07:52:59 -0800

But benzene is sooooooo tasty.

By: caddis

caddis — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 08:00:23 -0800

I think you are going to find that most sodas have this combination. I wouldn't be surprised to see huge splashes of this story all over the media in the next few days (they just love a good scare) and soft drink stocks plummeting, not that I am going to try shorting any of them.

By: dirtynumbangelboy

dirtynumbangelboy — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 08:03:50 -0800

Checking out two cans of (off-brand) pop on my desk.. one (the cola) contains citric acid but no potassium benzoate, the other (Dr Pepper knockoff) contains the latter but not the former. Perhaps this concern is limited to certain manufacturers?

By: rxrfrx

rxrfrx — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 08:10:54 -0800

I often see ascorbate in products like juice, whereas soda seems to usually contain citric and phosphoric acids. I know that phosphoric acid is supposed to be a good way of lowering beverage pH without changing flavor, whereas the other common acids could alter taste.

By: exlotuseater

exlotuseater — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 08:19:48 -0800

/me dreams of delicious benzene rings.

By: mygoditsbob

mygoditsbob — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 08:30:52 -0800

The National Soft Drinks Association must by behind in their "dues" assessment to the Republican National Commitee.

By: mygoditsbob

mygoditsbob — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 08:33:25 -0800

The National Soft Drinks Association must be behind in their "dues" assessment to the Republican National Commitee.

By: slatternus

slatternus — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 08:38:46 -0800

Ick. I think of all those programmers I used to work with, and the coke can fortresses they'd build around their desks, and how "hilarious" it was that they drank so much of that crap. And not just the regular B-grade poison, but "diet" Coke, with the yummmy nutrasweet that broke down into formic acid (ant venom) in the bloodstream. Mmmmm. But smoking pot? Straight to Hell with you!

By: rxrfrx

rxrfrx — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 08:41:47 -0800

yummmy nutrasweet that broke down into at best, a weak hypothesis, and at worst, a really obnoxious urban legend.

By: justkevin

justkevin — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 09:12:05 -0800

"The frogurt is also cursed." (wav)

By: 40 Watt

40 Watt — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 10:02:04 -0800

Just doing a quick survey in my office breakroom, both Coke and Mountain Dew both contain sodium benzoate and citric acid. Dew also contains something called erythorbic acid as well.

By: 40 Watt

40 Watt — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 10:11:03 -0800

...er, potassium benzoate.

By: 40 Watt

40 Watt — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 10:13:24 -0800

no, wait--- i was right the first time. Dammit...

By: Mitrovarr

Mitrovarr — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 11:09:36 -0800

Just for the record, because benzene is toxic doesn't mean sodium or potassium benzoate is. Those are the sodium and potassium salts of benzoic acid, which is chemically distinct from benzene. Benzoic acid is found in some natural foods, so you don't have to eat or drink synthetic things to get exposed to it.

By: unknowncommand

unknowncommand — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 11:11:27 -0800

For a list, you might try a google search for "sodium benzoate" "ascorbic acid" in the site bevnet.com. It looks like a lot of energy drinks are affected.

By: Eekacat

Eekacat — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 11:48:50 -0800

Another source for Benzene which would make the issue more local than national is the carbon dioxide they use to carbonate it.

By: caddis

caddis — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 13:52:20 -0800

Early FDA memos and lots of other benzene/soda stuff

By: tzelig

tzelig — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 14:18:50 -0800

From the article -

"But in recent months, internal documents and private tests have begun to surface, supported by claims from a former chemist for Cadbury Schweppes, who is now keen to blow the whistle on the health risk involved. He and a US lawyer commissioned new tests that have now prompted the FDA to re-open the case."

Having a family member recently pass due to Luekemia brought on by Benzene exposure, I would like to see this start to get more attention. I'm no longer consuming any of the products listed by Cadburyschweppes, nor any containing the sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid combo. This is a really disturbing.

By: tzelig

tzelig — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 14:19:46 -0800

From the article -

"But in recent months, internal documents and private tests have begun to surface, supported by claims from a former chemist for Cadbury Schweppes, who is now keen to blow the whistle on the health risk involved. He and a US lawyer commissioned new tests that have now prompted the FDA to re-open the case."

By: tzelig

tzelig — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 14:20:48 -0800

sorry for the double, two windows open.

By: dejah420

dejah420 — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 18:09:02 -0800

I've got a can of Schwepps ginger ale on my desk, and it does indeed contain sodium benzoate and citric acid. I wonder if my ginger ale addiction is a contributor to why my recent blood tests showed up as leukocytosis. (Elevated white counts...not the same as leukemia.) Tzelig, I'm sorry for your loss, please accept my sympathies.

By: Capt. Bligh

Capt. Bligh — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 21:17:14 -0800

What is the difference between sodium benzoate and potassium benzoate in this context? Some Coke products use one (mainly Fanta and Sprite) and other the other. See: http://7xpub.com/coke/7xobj.html

By: MLIS

MLIS — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 20:56:09 -0800

Soft drinks found to have high levels of cancer chemical London Times March 2, 2006