Cancer-Causing Benzene Found in Drinks

[Guest guest]

:::::snip:::::::::

This vastly proves Hulda Clark's work right! She has claimed this for

decades. S

:::::::snip::::::::

 

Cancer-Causing Benzene Found in Drinks

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20060520/D8HN60PG0.html

 

May 19, 8:18 PM (ET)

 

By ANDREW BRIDGES

 

WASHINGTON (AP) - A government analysis of more than 100 soft drinks and

other beverages turned up five with levels of cancer-causing benzene that

exceed

federal drinking-water standards, the Food and Drug Administration said

Friday.

 

The companies that make the drinks have been alerted and either have

reformulated their products or plan to do so, the FDA said. Government health

officials maintain there is no safety concern, an opinion not shared by at

least

one environmental group.

 

The five drinks listed by the government were Safeway Select Diet Orange,

Crush Pineapple, AquaCal Strawberry Flavored Water Beverage, Crystal Light

Sunrise Classic Orange and Giant Light Cranberry Juice Cocktail. The high

levels

of benzene were found in specific production lots of the drinks, the FDA

said.

 

Benzene, a chemical linked to leukemia, can form in soft drinks containing

two ingredients: Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, and either of the two

preservatives: sodium benzoate and potassium benzoate.

 

 

The presence of those ingredients doesn't mean benzene is present.

Scientists say factors such as heat or light exposure can trigger a reaction

that

forms benzene in the beverages.

 

Federal rules limit benzene levels in drinking water to 5 parts per billion.

A limited FDA analysis of store-bought drinks found benzene levels as high

as 79 parts per billion in one lot of Safeway Select Diet Orange.

 

A Safeway Inc. spokeswoman did not immediately return a message left seeking

comment.

 

Dr. Laura Tarantino, director of the FDA's Office of Food Additive Safety,

said drinking sodas high in benzene does not pose a health risk.

 

" This is likely an occasional exposure, it's not a chronic exposure.

Obviously, no benzene is something someone wants to have, but the amount of

benzene

you are getting in a soda is very, very small compared to what you're being

exposed to every day from environmental sources, " Tarantino said.

 

However, a spokesman for Environmental Working Group - which has accused the

FDA of suppressing information about benzene in soft drinks - saw the

results as a problem.

 

" FDA's test results confirm that there is a serious problem with benzene in

soda and juices, " said Richard Wiles, senior vice president at Environmental

Working Group.

Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All right reserved. This material may not

be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.