US: American Beverage Association quells benzene hysteria

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has dismissed renewed fears of a public health threat from benzene in soft drinks, according to the American Beverage Association.

Speaking today (18 July), the ABA said: "It's important for the public to understand that benzene is ubiquitous to the environment - it's in the air we breathe and many of the common foods we eat, including bananas, avocados, cheese, eggs and ground beef. In fact, it is estimated that 95% of the human exposure to benzene is from breathing, not from foods or beverages."

Working with the FDA, the ABA, which represents non-alcoholic beverage manufacturers and distributors in the US, recently produced a guidance document to mitigate the potential for benzene formation in beverages. Benzene has hit the headlines of late around the world, with traces being found in several soft drinks.

Last week, a group of soft drink manufacturers settled a class-action lawsuit which alleged that their products contained ingredients that could form benzene. The settlement by the soft drinks producers, which included PepsiCo, leaves the grocery chain Publix as the only remaining defendant in the action.

Other companies facing the suit included Sunny Delight, Polar Beverages and Shasta Beverages. The defendants agreed to reformulate, or said they had already reformulated, their products to ensure that benzene would not be formed, and had also agreed to give customers a replacement for any products sold before the reformulated date.

PepsiCo's Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi had been found to contain benzene levels nearly four times the maximum level set by the Environmental Protection Agency for benzene in drinking water, it was reported. PepsiCo has already reformulated the drink, and the drinks giant said the settlement "was simply the most expedient way to put this issue behind us".

Coca-Cola had also been a defendant in the suit but settled in May, offering similar terms to the other companies.