April 17, 2006 -- FDA Looking at Benzene in Soft Drinks

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said April 12 it's concerned about reports that unsafe levels of the carcinogen benzene have been detected in soft drinks that contain benzoate salts (an antimicrobial agent) and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), particularly under certain conditions of storage, shelf life, and handling. The FDA said it is looking into whether benzene levels in the unnamed soft drinks are above the 5 parts per billion allowed in U.S. water standards, as was reported in a recent FDA Total Diet Survey (TDS). The TDS is an ongoing FDA program that determines levels of various contaminants such as pesticide residues and industrial chemicals in foods. With respect to the reported levels of benzene in soft drinks, the FDA said it is following up with companies to ensure that their processing arrangements minimize the possibility of formation of the carcinogen.