As an avid Coca-Cola drinker, a recent study from Johns Hopkins is particularly alarming. Researchers found that the chemical process during the production of the caramel coloring used in soft drinks like cola creates a carcinogen that is possibly raising the risk of cancer above the accepted threshold of one extra case in every 100,000 consumers of the product.
These laboratory tests were conducted by Consumer Reports through Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future on 11 different sodas. In that study they found that as little as one can a day could be enough to expose that person to potentially cancer-causing levels of 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI).
4-MEI is the carcinogen produced during the manufacturing of the caramel color that is added to many soft drinks to give it the dark brown color. This was problematic enough for California to pass a law that requires drinks containing enough 4-MEI to pose an excess cancer risk (29 mcg of 4-MEI per day) to carry warning labels.
To put that amount into perspective, testing on 110 samples of the soda brands found that the drinks contained levels ranging from 9.5 mcg/L to 96 3 mcg/L. Although concentrations of 4-MEI varied by soda brand and state, researchers concluded “they were generally consistent across lots of the same beverage purchased in the same state/area.
This frightening range of statistics means that many drinks contain a possibly cancer causing risk with a 4-MEI concentration over 29 mcg. This amount was established by a study in mice by the US National Toxicology Program.
There was not enough data from individual samples to endorse one brand over another, but Malta Goya had the highest levels of 4-MEI and Coca-Cola had the lowest value. The latter was music to my ears, however we must keep in mind that these values can vary from state to state. Therefore, my precious Cola may still be in danger of possessing dangerous amounts of 4-MEI.
California labeled 4-MEI as a carcinogen in 2011 under the Safe Drinking and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. Although this was a major step in the direction of exposing this potential health hazard in many popular beverages, I believe there needs to be regulations on a federal level.
This is yet another example of big businesses putting profit before people. They need to be held responsible for the things that they put into their products. Without researching this on my own, I would have had no idea that this potential hazard even existed.
Therefore, I believe there needs to be warnings on every product in the nation that contains dangerous levels of 4-MEI, similar to the one in California. Dr. Keeve Nachman, assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health says, “Soft drink consumers are being exposed to an avoidable and unnecessary cancer risk from an ingredient that is being added to these beverages simply for esthetic purposes.
This unnecessary exposure poses a threat to public health and raises questions about the continued use of caramel coloring in soda.” With other links to diabetes and obesity, I believe soft drinks are best to be limited in one’s diet and possibly even eliminated.
Water is a much healthier alternative, and with the aforementioned study I will certainly be limiting my cola intake.
Zach Heppner
Viewpoints Editor
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