Cancer-Causing Benzene Found in Drinks

NOTE FROM ILENA: As expected ... ACSH.org defends benzene in soft drinks
while being funded by several soft drink makers. Such is the way of the
Quack / ACSH.org / junkscience.com Corporate Disinformation agents.

~~~~~~~~

http://www.forbes.com/work/feeds/ap/...ap2760228.html

Cancer-Causing Benzene Found in Drinks
By ANDREW BRIDGES , 05.19.2006, 05:39 PM

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.




*** Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com ***

Ilena Rose wrote:

http://www.forbes.com/work/feeds/ap/...ap2760228.html

Cancer-Causing Benzene Found in Drinks

I wish there was more benzene in the soft drinks...we could allow the
sugars to ferment, and, voila! Ethanol 85!

(Just a joke from someone who just paid $3.39 a gallon. Coke is on sale
at $0.99).

Benzene is also found in avaition fuel and they dump that stuff by the
bucket load if they need to land early.

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/9243342/detail.html

Ilena Rose wrote:

http://www.forbes.com/work/feeds/ap/...ap2760228.html

Cancer-Causing Benzene Found in Drinks

It is also in Ice Cream.

[thanks to Hulda Clark's knowledge]

http://www.epa.gov/ne/pr/1997/pr0311a.html

"Mark Probert" wrote in message
...
(Just a joke from someone who just paid $3.39 a gallon. Coke is on sale
at $0.99).

I just paid the equivalent of $7.10 per US gallon for diesel. No joke :-(

"Ilena Rose" llena Rose wrote in message
.. .
NOTE FROM ILENA: As expected ... ACSH.org defends benzene in soft drinks
while being funded by several soft drink makers. Such is the way of the
Quack / ACSH.org / junkscience.com Corporate Disinformation agents.

This is what the ACHH has to say about benzene in soft drinks:
http://www.acsh.org/factsfears/newsI...ews_detail.asp

We're talking about increasing the lifetime cancer risk by less than 1 in
1,000,000. However, the concentration of benzene that is in the article
(below) is about 4 times higher than the concentration mentioned in the web
page I cited above.

However, I beleive that ACSH's conclusion that moderate consumption of these
beverages is unlikely to cause much harm applies here, as well. In addition,
the beverage companies are working to reduce the concentration of benzene in
their products. This is consistant with the information from the EPA in the
article Ms Rose posted, as well.

I am glad that the soda companies are cutting down the benzene levels,
however.

Jeff

~~~~~~~~

http://www.forbes.com/work/feeds/ap/...ap2760228.html

Cancer-Causing Benzene Found in Drinks
By ANDREW BRIDGES , 05.19.2006, 05:39 PM

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.




*** Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com ***

"Jeff" wrote in message
.net...

"Ilena Rose" llena Rose wrote in message
.. .
NOTE FROM ILENA: As expected ... ACSH.org defends benzene in soft drinks
while being funded by several soft drink makers. Such is the way of the
Quack / ACSH.org / junkscience.com Corporate Disinformation agents.

This is what the ACHH has to say about benzene in soft drinks:
http://www.acsh.org/factsfears/newsI...ews_detail.asp

We're talking about increasing the lifetime cancer risk by less than 1 in
1,000,000. However, the concentration of benzene that is in the article
(below) is about 4 times higher than the concentration mentioned in the
web page I cited above.

However, I beleive that ACSH's conclusion that moderate consumption of
these beverages is unlikely to cause much harm applies here, as well.

Not surprised you would believe that.

I don't suppose you read the big lie?

*In the United States, the EPA's limit for benzene in water is 5 ppb, and
thus the levels of 8 ppb are considered excessive. As one might expect, the
usual scaremongers are attempting to frighten consumers about the presence
of this "carcinogen" in soft drinks. As usual, they target parents --
warning them about this supposed danger to their offspring -- even though
they acknowledge that they have no evidence that benzene is actually present
in the beverages they list as problematic*.

==

[Then we have a bit of *stupid skeptic tricks* thrown in]

On the list of health risks to be concerned about, benzene in soft drinks
has to be way down. Recycling paper and cans may be a reasonable activity,
but the benzene health scare should be tossed out with the non-recyclable
trash.

(1) Raloff J. Biggest benzene risks hide close to home. Science News.
October 14, 1989:245.

(2) Meier, B. Perrier recalls its water in U.S. after benzene is found in
bottles. The New York Times. February 10, 1990:1.

[1989 and 1990!! just a TAD bit out dated]

Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D.

[member of AMA *Organized medicine*]

As a side note...this so-called nutritionist goes for this nosense..which
tells ALL...

http://www.acsh.org/healthissues/new...sue_detail.asp





In addition,
the beverage companies are working to reduce the concentration of benzene
in their products. This is consistant with the information from the EPA in
the article Ms Rose posted, as well.

I am glad that the soda companies are cutting down the benzene levels,
however.

Jeff

~~~~~~~~

http://www.forbes.com/work/feeds/ap/...ap2760228.html

Cancer-Causing Benzene Found in Drinks
By ANDREW BRIDGES , 05.19.2006, 05:39 PM

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.




*** Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com ***

"Thomas Lee Elifritz" wrote in message
...
Jan Drew wrote:
"Jeff" wrote in message
.net...
"Ilena Rose" llena Rose wrote in message
.. .
NOTE FROM ILENA: As expected ... ACSH.org defends benzene in soft
drinks while being funded by several soft drink makers. Such is the way
of the Quack / ACSH.org / junkscience.com Corporate Disinformation
agents.
This is what the ACHH has to say about benzene in soft drinks:
http://www.acsh.org/factsfears/newsI...ews_detail.asp

We're talking about increasing the lifetime cancer risk by less than 1
in 1,000,000. However, the concentration of benzene that is in the
article (below) is about 4 times higher than the concentration mentioned
in the web page I cited above.

However, I beleive that ACSH's conclusion that moderate consumption of
these beverages is unlikely to cause much harm applies here, as well.

Not surprised you would believe that.

I don't suppose you read the big lie?

So you claim no benzene is present in these products.

Just *where* exactly did you see a claim?

*In the United States, the EPA's limit for benzene in water is 5 ppb, and
thus the levels of 8 ppb are considered excessive. As one might expect,
the usual scaremongers are attempting to frighten consumers about the
presence of this "carcinogen" in soft drinks. As usual, they target
parents --

Yes, scared consumers are non consumers, and we can't have that, can we.

Say what? Your proof of that claim..please?

warning them about this supposed danger to their offspring -- even though
they acknowledge that they have no evidence that benzene is actually
present in the beverages they list as problematic*.

What you don't provide is evidence that there is *NO* benzene present,
which is clearly contradicts the available evidence.

You have that backwards, it is NOT me making the claim...

Crackpot you are.

I am simply crushed with your opinion.

Jan Drew wrote:
"Jeff" wrote in message
.net...
"Ilena Rose" llena Rose wrote in message
.. .
NOTE FROM ILENA: As expected ... ACSH.org defends benzene in soft drinks
while being funded by several soft drink makers. Such is the way of the
Quack / ACSH.org / junkscience.com Corporate Disinformation agents.
This is what the ACHH has to say about benzene in soft drinks:
http://www.acsh.org/factsfears/newsI...ews_detail.asp

We're talking about increasing the lifetime cancer risk by less than 1 in
1,000,000. However, the concentration of benzene that is in the article
(below) is about 4 times higher than the concentration mentioned in the
web page I cited above.

However, I beleive that ACSH's conclusion that moderate consumption of
these beverages is unlikely to cause much harm applies here, as well.

Not surprised you would believe that.

I don't suppose you read the big lie?

So you claim no benzene is present in these products.

*In the United States, the EPA's limit for benzene in water is 5 ppb, and
thus the levels of 8 ppb are considered excessive. As one might expect, the
usual scaremongers are attempting to frighten consumers about the presence
of this "carcinogen" in soft drinks. As usual, they target parents --

Yes, scared consumers are non consumers, and we can't have that, can we.

warning them about this supposed danger to their offspring -- even though
they acknowledge that they have no evidence that benzene is actually present
in the beverages they list as problematic*.

What you don't provide is evidence that there is *NO* benzene present,
which is clearly contradicts the available evidence. Crackpot you are.

http://cosmic.lifeform.org

"Jan Drew" wrote in message
. com...

"Jeff" wrote in message
.net...

"Ilena Rose" llena Rose wrote in message
.. .
NOTE FROM ILENA: As expected ... ACSH.org defends benzene in soft
drinks while being funded by several soft drink makers. Such is the way
of the Quack / ACSH.org / junkscience.com Corporate Disinformation
agents.

This is what the ACHH has to say about benzene in soft drinks:
http://www.acsh.org/factsfears/newsI...ews_detail.asp

We're talking about increasing the lifetime cancer risk by less than 1 in
1,000,000. However, the concentration of benzene that is in the article
(below) is about 4 times higher than the concentration mentioned in the
web page I cited above.

However, I beleive that ACSH's conclusion that moderate consumption of
these beverages is unlikely to cause much harm applies here, as well.

Not surprised you would believe that.

Of course, I believe the truth.

I don't suppose you read the big lie?

*In the United States, the EPA's limit for benzene in water is 5 ppb, and
thus the levels of 8 ppb are considered excessive. As one might expect,
the usual scaremongers are attempting to frighten consumers about the
presence of this "carcinogen" in soft drinks. As usual, they target
parents -- warning them about this supposed danger to their offspring --
even though they acknowledge that they have no evidence that benzene is
actually present in the beverages they list as problematic*.

Can you please provide that this is a lie? I am talking about the present
issue with the benzene in the diet drinks (I know it is there), but in the
beverages that the ACSH web page is talking about (remember, the web page
was there before the present issues arose)?

Jeff

(...)