Clipping Board » Illness Enters through Mouth ─ The information that has been made public is often just the tip of the iceberg...
**United Evening News / Compiled by Zhu Xiaoming / Comprehensive Report**
A U.S. consumer group has claimed that beverages like Coca-Cola and Pepsi contain the carcinogen 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI). Photo: United Daily News archive
The U.S. consumer advocacy group, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), issued a statement alleging that Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and other sodas contain high levels of the carcinogenic substance 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI). This coloring additive has been linked to tumor formation in animals, prompting the group to call for a government ban. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated that a person would need to drink at least 1,000 cans of soda per day to reach the dosage shown to cause cancer in mice, assuring consumers that there is no immediate danger.
The CSPI's research report revealed that Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi, and Dr Pepper all contain 4-MEI, which is used to create the caramel coloring in these beverages.
Last month, the CSPI petitioned the FDA to ban the use of ammonium sulfite caramel coloring, a common ingredient in most sodas, to prevent millions of people from being exposed to carcinogens. The group estimates that the 4-MEI levels in Coca-Cola and Pepsi may contribute to approximately 15,000 cancer cases in the U.S. According to the CSPI, a single can of Coca-Cola contains 145 micrograms of 4-MEI, while Pepsi contains about half that amount. California regulations require a warning label if 4-MEI levels exceed 29 micrograms.
The American Beverage Association quickly countered, calling the CSPI's claims "alarmist" and stating that there is no evidence 4-MEI causes cancer in humans.
FDA spokesperson Karas responded via email to Bloomberg reporters, emphasizing that the dosage used in the mouse cancer study would require a person to consume over 1,000 cans of soda in a single day. Therefore, the FDA sees no reason to believe sodas pose an immediate risk to consumers, though it is reviewing the CSPI's petition.
**Reporter Li Shuren / Taipei Report**
Foreign reports indicate that Coca-Cola and Pepsi, popular for over a century, contain the carcinogenic additive 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI), which may increase cancer risk with long-term consumption. Deng Zhaofang, director of the Clinical Toxicology Department at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, noted that artificial additives carry inherent risks, and from a scientific standpoint, consuming such beverages does involve some level of risk.
However, given the long history and widespread consumption of Coca-Cola and Pepsi, if certain groups suspect a link to cancer, large-scale epidemiological retrospective studies should be conducted to determine any association between these sodas and cancer.
Deng Zhaofang explained that while animal studies have shown 4-MEI can induce cancer, results may not directly apply to humans. Additionally, individual lifestyles and dietary habits vary, so choosing low-calorie, natural beverages remains the best option.
Source: http://mag. udn. com/ mag/ life/ storypage. jsp? f_ART_ID=375669#ixzz1okrenorm
US CSPI: Cola Contains High Levels of Carcinogens
A U.S. consumer group has claimed that beverages like Coca-Cola and Pepsi contain the carcinogen 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI). Photo: United Daily News archive
The U.S. consumer advocacy group, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), issued a statement alleging that Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and other sodas contain high levels of the carcinogenic substance 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI). This coloring additive has been linked to tumor formation in animals, prompting the group to call for a government ban. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated that a person would need to drink at least 1,000 cans of soda per day to reach the dosage shown to cause cancer in mice, assuring consumers that there is no immediate danger.
The CSPI's research report revealed that Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi, and Dr Pepper all contain 4-MEI, which is used to create the caramel coloring in these beverages.
Last month, the CSPI petitioned the FDA to ban the use of ammonium sulfite caramel coloring, a common ingredient in most sodas, to prevent millions of people from being exposed to carcinogens. The group estimates that the 4-MEI levels in Coca-Cola and Pepsi may contribute to approximately 15,000 cancer cases in the U.S. According to the CSPI, a single can of Coca-Cola contains 145 micrograms of 4-MEI, while Pepsi contains about half that amount. California regulations require a warning label if 4-MEI levels exceed 29 micrograms.
The American Beverage Association quickly countered, calling the CSPI's claims "alarmist" and stating that there is no evidence 4-MEI causes cancer in humans.
FDA spokesperson Karas responded via email to Bloomberg reporters, emphasizing that the dosage used in the mouse cancer study would require a person to consume over 1,000 cans of soda in a single day. Therefore, the FDA sees no reason to believe sodas pose an immediate risk to consumers, though it is reviewing the CSPI's petition.
**Reporter Li Shuren / Taipei Report**
Foreign reports indicate that Coca-Cola and Pepsi, popular for over a century, contain the carcinogenic additive 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI), which may increase cancer risk with long-term consumption. Deng Zhaofang, director of the Clinical Toxicology Department at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, noted that artificial additives carry inherent risks, and from a scientific standpoint, consuming such beverages does involve some level of risk.
However, given the long history and widespread consumption of Coca-Cola and Pepsi, if certain groups suspect a link to cancer, large-scale epidemiological retrospective studies should be conducted to determine any association between these sodas and cancer.
Deng Zhaofang explained that while animal studies have shown 4-MEI can induce cancer, results may not directly apply to humans. Additionally, individual lifestyles and dietary habits vary, so choosing low-calorie, natural beverages remains the best option.
Source: http://mag. udn. com/ mag/ life/ storypage. jsp? f_ART_ID=375669#ixzz1okrenorm