Researchers found evidence of a potentially carcinogenic substance found in soda.
The substance, called 4-methylimidazole (4-Mel), is a byproduct of certain caramel colors, a Consumer Reports news release reported. It was found in 12 brands of soda and soft drinks manufactured by five companies.
"We are concerned about both the levels of 4-MeI we found in many of the soft drinks tested and the variations observed among brands, especially given the widespread consumption of these types of beverages. There is no reason why consumers need to be exposed to this avoidable and unnecessary risk that can stem from coloring food and beverages brown,"
Doctor Urvashi Rangan, a toxicologist and Executive Director of the Consumer Reports Food Safety and Sustainability Center, said in the news release.
Caramel color has nothing to do with actual caramel, it is simply a coloring agent. Products containing these types of coloring agents could harbor carcinogenic 4-Mel .
There is currently no limit to the amount of caramel color manufacturers can use in their products, but in California items containing over 29 micrograms of 4-MeI are required to let consumers know with a warning label.
Consumer Reports tested "81 cans and bottles" of various sodas and soft drinks, including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Goya. They purchased the beverages in New York and California.
A number of Pepsi One and Malta Goya 12-ounce servings purchased over an eight-month period were found to contain over 29 micrograms the potentially-harmful substance.
"While our study is not big enough to recommend one brand over another, our results underscore two key points: The first is that it is indeed feasible to get down to lower and almost negligible levels of 4-MeI. And the second is that federal standards are required to compel manufacturers to minimize the creation of this potential carcinogen," Rangan said.
