In 2011 Coke and Pepsi were required to have a cancer warning on their label in California. Coca-Cola and Pepsi have already removed a toxic chemical from its recipe in California. A watchdog group found in a study that Pepsi products still contain a large amount of a harmful carcinogen in other parts of the country.
In the study The products were tested outside of California in May and June by Eurofins Analytical laboratory in Metairie, La. They collected 10 of each product from across the U.S. for its investigation. Results showed that most Pepsi products still contained four to eight times the recommended safe amount of the chemical called 4-MEI. Nine of the 10 Coke products contained little or no trace of 4-MEI.
Coke should be applauded for taking this health protective action for consumers nationwide. Coke plans to take the change worldwide.
That’s according to the U.S. Center for Science in the Public Interest the center of the years-long controversy is the iconic soda’s caramel colouring. An ingredient, 4-methylimidazole, or 4-MEI, allegedly poses a danger to those who drink cola.
Coke says it’s made the transition across the country so that it wouldn’t have to deal with two separate batches of product.
Pepsi told Global News that its new caramel colouring should be complete by February 2014. It said that it’s even working on changing the colouring recipe for global distribution.
“We strongly refute any claim that any product we sell anywhere is unsafe. The safety of our products is Pepsico’s top priority,” spokeswoman Gina Anderson told Global News in an email.
“The FDA and other regulatory agencies around the world, including the European Food Safety Authority and Health Canada, consider our caramel colouring safe for use in foods and beverages,” the statement said.
4-MEI can be found in other products It forms during the heating, roasting or cooking process of soy sauce, caramel and molasses.
Source Global News
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