Soda Ingredients Linked to Cirrhosis and Cancer

Source: Organic Consumer Association

As if we don't have enough things to worry about regarding our food and water supply, but here is yet another example of how Corporations seem to neglect public health and safety in the name of $$PROFIT$$. US Food and Drug Administration has reported that it has a found a high level of benzene (a known carcinogen) in 5 out of 100 soft drinks tested. The levels of benzene were higher than the accepted level of 5 ppb (part per billion)limit for drinking water set by the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA). The toxin is formed when a soda manufacturer uses two ingredients that can react to form benzene: ascorbic acid(Vitamin C) and sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate. The FDA has already alerted the soft drink companies and they are already re-formulating their drinks. The Soft Drinks you might want to avoid for a while are:

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Safeway Select Diet Orange - 79.2 ppb of benzene

AquaCal Strawberry Flavored Water Beverage - 23.4 ppb of benzene

Crystal Light Sunrise Classic Orange - 87.9 ppb of benzene

Giant Light Cranberry Juice Cocktail - 10.7 ppb

Crush Pineapple - 9.2 ppb

Benzene is a chemical, which is linked to cancer in humans. It is released into the air from automobile emissions, burning coal and oil. Benzene is also used extensively in industries, which produce chemicals, dyes, detergents, synthetic fibers, solvents, rubber and some plastics.

There is no dispute on the cancer-causing potential of benzene "Benzene is carcinogenic to humans and no safe level of exposure can be recommended," the World Health Organization has maintained. Benzene causes leukemia and can also cross the placenta affecting the fetus.

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