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
United Daily News / Reporter Shi Jingru / Taipei Report
Foreign research has found that cola contains the carcinogen 4-methylimidazole (4-MI), but in products sold in Taiwan, it is only labeled as "caramel." The Department of Health stated that, according to regulations, it should be labeled as "caramel coloring" and will issue a notice to manufacturers requesting improvements.
Cai Shuzhen, head of the Food Division at the Food and Drug Administration under the Department of Health, explained that 4-MI is a type of caramel coloring. According to the "Hygienic Standard for Natural Coloring Agents," caramel coloring, like other natural coloring agents such as anthocyanins, has complex components. Therefore, the law only requires it to be labeled as "caramel coloring" and does not mandate the specific listing of 4-methylimidazole.
If manufacturers should label the product as "caramel coloring" but only mark it as "caramel," under Article 17 of the Food Sanitation Management Act, they can be required to make corrections within a specified period. Failure to comply may result in fines ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$150,000. The Food and Drug Administration will soon issue notices to manufacturers requesting improvements.
Source: http://mag. udn. com/ mag/ life/ storypage. jsp? f_ART_ID=376724#ixzz1oktEhzjz
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
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
Health Department: "Caramel Color" Ingredients Cannot be Labeled Simply as Caramel
Foreign research has found that cola contains the carcinogen 4-methylimidazole (4-MI), but in products sold in Taiwan, it is only labeled as "caramel." The Department of Health stated that, according to regulations, it should be labeled as "caramel coloring" and will issue a notice to manufacturers requesting improvements.
Cai Shuzhen, head of the Food Division at the Food and Drug Administration under the Department of Health, explained that 4-MI is a type of caramel coloring. According to the "Hygienic Standard for Natural Coloring Agents," caramel coloring, like other natural coloring agents such as anthocyanins, has complex components. Therefore, the law only requires it to be labeled as "caramel coloring" and does not mandate the specific listing of 4-methylimidazole.
If manufacturers should label the product as "caramel coloring" but only mark it as "caramel," under Article 17 of the Food Sanitation Management Act, they can be required to make corrections within a specified period. Failure to comply may result in fines ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$150,000. The Food and Drug Administration will soon issue notices to manufacturers requesting improvements.
Source: http://mag. udn. com/ mag/ life/ storypage. jsp? f_ART_ID=376724#ixzz1oktEhzjz
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