Sunny Delight Named as Defendant in Benzene Lawsuit
By Jennifer Griffith
Published on May 29, 2007
PepsiCo, Shasta, and Rockstar are also defendants in the suit.
Filed in the summer of 2006 by three women in Kansas, New Jersey, and Florida, the suit originally also included Coca Cola Company, which settled out of court earlier this month.
According to the suit, beverages containing ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and sodium benzoate produce benzene when exposed to heat and light.
The Food and Drug Administration regulates benzene in bottled water, but not in other beverages. According to the FDA, the levels of benzene in sodas, juices, and energy drinks are lower than the limit for drinking water, and are not a concern.
In a December 2006 motion, Coca Cola and Sunny Delight asked that the lawsuit be dismissed since there are no evident injuries or allegations of potential future injuries.
Coca Cola Company went ahead and reformulated its beverages Vault Zero and Fanta Pineapple, eliminating benzene-related ingredients.
Sunny Delight declined to comment on the litigation. There are no publicly announced plans to reformulate its beverages.
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