FDA detects benzene in five different drinks

By Holly Fleming

Published on May 31, 2006

Benzene is a carcinogen that can form in soft drinks that contain Vitamin C (or ascorbic acid) and either sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate when heat or light exposure causes a chemical reaction.

Federal regulations limit the amount of benzene in drinking water to 5 parts per billion. The FDA analysis of store-bought soda and juice drinks found benzene levels to be as high as 79 parts per billion.

The five drinks were: Safeway Select Diet Orange, Crystal Light Sunrise Classic Orange, Crush Pineapple, Giant Light Cranberry Juice Cocktail, and AquaCal Strawberry Flavored Water Beverage.

The FDA’s Office of Food Additive Safety stated that drinking sodas or juices high in benzene does not pose a health risk, and that the exposure would most likely be sporadic rather than chronic. The FDA also stated that the benzene consumption would be less than what humans are exposed to in the environment.

But the Environmental Working Group — which has in the past accused the FDA of withholding information about benzene — say that the test results confirm that there is a severe problem with benzene in soda and juices.

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