. FOOD CHEMICALS:    Soda Sales Sink in the U.S. . The nation’s unquenchable thirst for large quantities of potentially dangerous food dyes such as caramel coloring and Tartrazine (Yellow 5), artificial sweeteners like Aspartame, and preservatives like Sodium Benzoate and BVO (all of which have been linked in scientific studies with a variety of serious health-related problems —including cancer.  See summary: Research Findings on the Dangers of Synthetic Food Chemicals) appears to be fizzing out.  Now if we can just get Big Food corporations to remove these synthetic chemicals from energy drinks and sports drinks… . Soda Revenue Goes From Flat to Sour Wall Street Journal Coca-Cola, Pepsico, and Dr. Pepper Snapple Group have struggled to reverse the decline in soda consumption in the U.S., where shoppers increasingly reach for water, coffee, and other drinks. Now they have a bigger worry: soda revenue. As U.S. consumption steadily slipped over the past eight years, the beverage giants typically were able to raise prices enough to keep soda revenues from America’s favorite drink growing. But soda sales at U.S. stores declined in the second half of last year—including during the holidays, when party-goers normally pay up to gulp more. Now industry analysts wonder if the downturn in sales is here to stay. . ____________________ (image source-eatnutritiouslivewell.blogspot.com)
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FOOD CHEMICALS:    Soda Sales Sink in the U.S.

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The nation’s unquenchable thirst for large quantities of potentially dangerous food dyes such as caramel coloring and Tartrazine (Yellow 5), artificial sweeteners like Aspartame, and preservatives like Sodium Benzoate and BVO (all of which have been linked in scientific studies with a variety of serious health-related problems —including cancer.  See summary: Research Findings on the Dangers of Synthetic Food Chemicals) appears to be fizzing out.  Now if we can just get Big Food corporations to remove these synthetic chemicals from energy drinks and sports drinks…

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Soda Revenue Goes From Flat to Sour

Wall Street Journal


Coca-Cola, Pepsico, and Dr. Pepper Snapple Group have struggled to reverse the decline in soda consumption in the U.S., where shoppers increasingly reach for water, coffee, and other drinks.

Now they have a bigger worry: soda revenue.

As U.S. consumption steadily slipped over the past eight years, the beverage giants typically were able to raise prices enough to keep soda revenues from America’s favorite drink growing. But soda sales at U.S. stores declined in the second half of last year—including during the holidays, when party-goers normally pay up to gulp more.

Now industry analysts wonder if the downturn in sales is here to stay.

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(image source-eatnutritiouslivewell.blogspot.com)

FOOD CHEMICALS:  Coke and Pepsi Reduce Levels of Sulfites and Ammonia [Caramel Food Dye] to Avoid *Cancer* Labels

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Coke, Pepsi change colour process to avoid being slapped with cancer sticker

The artificial brown coloring is made using sugars with ammonia and sulfites under high pressure and temperatures, which results in the chemicals being produced, according to the CSPI.

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FOOD CHEMICALS:  TOXIC FOOD DYE in SODA . Lab Tests Find Carcinogen in Regular and Diet Coke and Pepsi New chemical analyses have found that Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, Diet Coke, and Diet Pepsi contain high levels of 4-methylimidazole (4-MI), a known animal carcinogen. The carcinogen forms when ammonia or ammonia and sulfites are used to manufacture the “caramel coloring” that gives those sodas their distinctive brown colors, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the nonprofit watchdog group that commissioned the tests. CSPI first petitioned the FDA to ban ammonia-sulfite caramel coloring in February 2011 . Sodas Contain Animal Carcinogen, Study Finds Today’s leading cola beverages contain high levels of a substance linked to cancer in animals, according to new research.  An independent study commissioned by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) uncovered  4-methylimidazole, or 4-MI, in Coke, Diet Coke, Pepsi and Diet Pepsi at levels 4.8 times greater than those allowed in beverages in California. 4-MI is a byproduct of the reaction that produces the caramel coloring in brown sodas. The chemical has been found to be carcinogenic in animal studies.    The state of California has banned 4-MI in any amount that could potentially lead to one cancer case in 100,000 people. However the levels found in these 4 leading Cola brands indicated a lifetime risk of 5 cancers out of 100,000, assuming that people drink one soft drink per day. That risk rises to 10 cancers out of 100,000 people who drink only soft drinks containing caramel coloring.  The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets an even more conservative risk limit for contaminant in food additives of 1 cancer in 1,000,000 people.  But the study reported rates of 4-MI that are associated with 48 cancers in 1,000,000.  “Coke and Pepsi, with the acquiescence of the FDA, are needlessly exposing millions of Americans to a chemical that causes cancer,” said CSPI executive director Michael F. Jacobson.  ”The coloring is completely cosmetic, adding nothing to the flavor of the product.  If companies can make brown food coloring that is carcinogen-free, the industry should use that.  And industry seems to be moving in that direction.  Otherwise, the FDA needs to protect consumers from this risk by banning the coloring.”  In a letter to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg Monday, CSPI shared the results of its study. The document served as an addition to the group’s petition of last year, which called on FDA to ban caramel colorings made with processes that generate 2-MI and 4-MI.  The study also found 4-MI in Dr. Pepper and Diet Dr. Pepper, but at lower levels than the other 4 brands. A sample of Whole Foods’ 365 cola had a concentration of 47 micrograms of 4-MI in a can, as opposed to the almost 150 micrograms found in a can of Coca-Cola.  The analysis was limited to 13 samples - 1 of Whole Foods’ 365 and 2 of each other brand - all purchased in the Washington, D.C. area.  By Gretchen Goetz, © Food Safety News .
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FOOD CHEMICALS:  TOXIC FOOD DYE in SODA

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Lab Tests Find Carcinogen in Regular and Diet Coke and Pepsi

New chemical analyses have found that Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, Diet Coke, and Diet Pepsi contain high levels of 4-methylimidazole (4-MI), a known animal carcinogen. The carcinogen forms when ammonia or ammonia and sulfites are used to manufacture the “caramel coloring” that gives those sodas their distinctive brown colors, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the nonprofit watchdog group that commissioned the tests. CSPI first petitioned the FDA to ban ammonia-sulfite caramel coloring in February 2011

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Sodas Contain Animal Carcinogen, Study Finds

Today’s leading cola beverages contain high levels of a substance linked to cancer in animals, according to new research. 
An independent study commissioned by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) uncovered  4-methylimidazole, or 4-MI, in Coke, Diet Coke, Pepsi and Diet Pepsi at levels 4.8 times greater than those allowed in beverages in California.
4-MI is a byproduct of the reaction that produces the caramel coloring in brown sodas. The chemical has been found to be carcinogenic in animal studies.   
The state of California has banned 4-MI in any amount that could potentially lead to one cancer case in 100,000 people. However the levels found in these 4 leading Cola brands indicated a lifetime risk of 5 cancers out of 100,000, assuming that people drink one soft drink per day. That risk rises to 10 cancers out of 100,000 people who drink only soft drinks containing caramel coloring. 
The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets an even more conservative risk limit for contaminant in food additives of 1 cancer in 1,000,000 people.  But the study reported rates of 4-MI that are associated with 48 cancers in 1,000,000. 
“Coke and Pepsi, with the acquiescence of the FDA, are needlessly exposing millions of Americans to a chemical that causes cancer,” said CSPI executive director Michael F. Jacobson.  ”The coloring is completely cosmetic, adding nothing to the flavor of the product.  If companies can make brown food coloring that is carcinogen-free, the industry should use that.  And industry seems to be moving in that direction.  Otherwise, the FDA needs to protect consumers from this risk by banning the coloring.” 
In a letter to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg Monday, CSPI shared the results of its study. The document served as an addition to the group’s petition of last year, which called on FDA to ban caramel colorings made with processes that generate 2-MI and 4-MI. 
The study also found 4-MI in Dr. Pepper and Diet Dr. Pepper, but at lower levels than the other 4 brands. A sample of Whole Foods’ 365 cola had a concentration of 47 micrograms of 4-MI in a can, as opposed to the almost 150 micrograms found in a can of Coca-Cola. 
The analysis was limited to 13 samples - 1 of Whole Foods’ 365 and 2 of each other brand - all purchased in the Washington, D.C. area. 

By Gretchen Goetz, © Food Safety News




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