Clipping Board » Illness Enters through Mouth ─ The information that has been made public is often just the tip of the iceberg...
United Daily News / Compiled by Li Jinglun
Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have announced that, in compliance with California state laws, they have requested caramel color suppliers to modify their production processes to reduce the levels of 4-methylimidazole (4-MI). This adjustment ensures that their products sold in California will not require a cancer warning label.
Multiple studies on mice have shown that 4-MI may cause cancer. As a result, California officially classified 4-MI as a carcinogen on January 7 last year, mandating that food and beverages containing more than 29 micrograms of 4-MI must carry a cancer warning label.
Coca-Cola and PepsiCo stated that the new caramel color production process will be implemented nationwide in the U.S. According to Beverage Digest, a leading industry publication for non-alcoholic beverages, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo dominate 90% of the U.S. soda market.
The American Beverage Association stated that its member companies will continue using caramel coloring in certain products but will adjust the production process to comply with California’s 4-MI limits. The association emphasized, "Consumers will not notice any difference in our products, and there is no reason for health concerns." It also pointed out that California’s classification of caramel coloring as a carcinogen was based solely on a single mouse study, with no evidence linking it to cancer in humans.
Diana Garza-Ciarlante, a representative for Coca-Cola, said the company has asked suppliers to modify their processes to reduce 4-MI levels. She explained that 4-MI is produced during cooking, meaning trace amounts may be present in some foods. "While the original caramel color process poses no health risks and claims linking 4-MI to cancer lack scientific basis, we have still asked suppliers to adjust their production methods," she added.
In February last year, the U.S. consumer advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest petitioned the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban caramel coloring produced using ammonium sulfite or ammonia processes, which contain 2-methylimidazole and 4-MI. The FDA stated it is reviewing the petition but noted that a person would need to consume over 1,000 cans of soda per day to reach the 4-MI levels shown to cause cancer in mice.
4-MI is used in pharmaceuticals, photographic chemicals, dyes and pigments, agricultural and cleaning chemicals, and rubber products. It is also a byproduct in the production of nitrogenized feed, caramel coloring, soy sauce, alcohol, and ammoniated molasses.
**Taiwan Coca-Cola: No Change in Taste or Price**
By Su Xiangyun / Taipei Report
Taiwan Coca-Cola stated that the decision to modify the production process and formula was made by its U.S. headquarters and will be implemented globally, including in Taiwan.
The company has yet to receive a timeline for the changes but confirmed that the new formula will not affect the taste or price of Coca-Cola products.
Source: http://mag. udn. com/ mag/ life/ storypage. jsp? f_ART_ID=376723#ixzz1oktgGgD7
2012/03/10 22:24
Coca-Cola, Pepsi to Reduce 4-MI Levels
Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have announced that, in compliance with California state laws, they have requested caramel color suppliers to modify their production processes to reduce the levels of 4-methylimidazole (4-MI). This adjustment ensures that their products sold in California will not require a cancer warning label.
Multiple studies on mice have shown that 4-MI may cause cancer. As a result, California officially classified 4-MI as a carcinogen on January 7 last year, mandating that food and beverages containing more than 29 micrograms of 4-MI must carry a cancer warning label.
Coca-Cola and PepsiCo stated that the new caramel color production process will be implemented nationwide in the U.S. According to Beverage Digest, a leading industry publication for non-alcoholic beverages, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo dominate 90% of the U.S. soda market.
The American Beverage Association stated that its member companies will continue using caramel coloring in certain products but will adjust the production process to comply with California’s 4-MI limits. The association emphasized, "Consumers will not notice any difference in our products, and there is no reason for health concerns." It also pointed out that California’s classification of caramel coloring as a carcinogen was based solely on a single mouse study, with no evidence linking it to cancer in humans.
Diana Garza-Ciarlante, a representative for Coca-Cola, said the company has asked suppliers to modify their processes to reduce 4-MI levels. She explained that 4-MI is produced during cooking, meaning trace amounts may be present in some foods. "While the original caramel color process poses no health risks and claims linking 4-MI to cancer lack scientific basis, we have still asked suppliers to adjust their production methods," she added.
In February last year, the U.S. consumer advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest petitioned the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban caramel coloring produced using ammonium sulfite or ammonia processes, which contain 2-methylimidazole and 4-MI. The FDA stated it is reviewing the petition but noted that a person would need to consume over 1,000 cans of soda per day to reach the 4-MI levels shown to cause cancer in mice.
4-MI is used in pharmaceuticals, photographic chemicals, dyes and pigments, agricultural and cleaning chemicals, and rubber products. It is also a byproduct in the production of nitrogenized feed, caramel coloring, soy sauce, alcohol, and ammoniated molasses.
**Taiwan Coca-Cola: No Change in Taste or Price**
By Su Xiangyun / Taipei Report
Taiwan Coca-Cola stated that the decision to modify the production process and formula was made by its U.S. headquarters and will be implemented globally, including in Taiwan.
The company has yet to receive a timeline for the changes but confirmed that the new formula will not affect the taste or price of Coca-Cola products.
Source: http://mag. udn. com/ mag/ life/ storypage. jsp? f_ART_ID=376723#ixzz1oktgGgD7