FDA says too much benzene in some soft drinks

May 22 2006

According to the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. following testing the cancer-causing chemical benzene were found in some soft drinks; the FDA say they were not at high enough levels to cause harm.

Benzene is a chemical that is released into the air from emissions from automobiles and burning coal and oil.

It is used in the manufacturing of a wide range of industrial applications, including production of other chemicals, dyes, detergents, and some plastics.

Benzene is a carcinogen that can cause cancer in humans and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established the maximum allowable level for benzene in drinking water to be 5 parts per billion (ppb).

The FDA says however that five out of more than 100 beverages checked had benzene in amounts exceeding the limit set for U.S. drinking water - 5 ppb.

The FDA says as a result it is asking manufacturers to minimize or eliminate benzene levels in their products and all of the manufacturers contacted have reformulated the drinks or are in the process of doing so.

The testing of soft drinks and other beverages took place from November 2005 through to April 2006 for it's CFSAN survey and most products says Dr. Laura Tarantino, director of the FDA's Office of Food Additive, had very low levels of benzene or none that was detected, and pose no safety concern for consumers.

Some levels were apparently as high as 88 parts per billion, and though there is no limit set for soft drinks regulators believe benzene levels should be minimal.

Tarantino says that any benzene in soft drinks that can be avoided should be avoided.

The drinks with excessive benzene were Safeway Select Diet Orange; Cadbury Schweppes Crush Pineapple; Giant Light Cranberry Juice Cocktail by Ahold, AquaCal Strawberry Flavored Water Beverage, and Kraft's Crystal Light Sunrise Classic Orange.

The American Beverage Association said the FDA's findings were consistent with past reviews of benzene in soft drinks.

The FDA has issued guidelines to manufacturers on ways to minimize benzene but does say that benzene has been found in several foods.

It seems that bananas, ground beef, cheese, butter, eggs, avocados and popsicles are among foods that have been found at times to have excessive benzene levels greater than the water standard of 5 ppb.

The FDA has not issued health concerns for those foods.

The FDA also points out that Benzene can form in soft drinks that contain vitamin C and chemicals called benzoate salts when they are exposed to light or high temperatures.