The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has warned that the coloring agents in Coca-Cola and Pepsi soft drinks can cause cancer and should be banned. This information has been published in many foreign newspapers.

Asiaone.com quoted the announcement of the CSPI center (a non-profit monitoring organization based in the US), saying that the ingredients of two soft drinks Coca-Cola and Pepsi both contain high concentrations of a carcinogen called 4-methylimidazole (4-MIE).

This substance is produced in a chemical reaction between ammonia and sulphites to create the characteristic brown color of this soft drink.

CSPI said that in the National Toxicology Program (NTP) of the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, scientists conducted research on the harmful effects of 4-MIE on animals. The results showed that this chemical can cause lung, liver, thyroid cancer and leukemia in mice.

After conducting a survey of beverages in Washington, CSPI found that Pepsi soft drinks contained 145 to 153 micrograms of 4-MI per two 12-ounce cans; and two samples of Coca-Cola products contained 142 to 146 micrograms per can. Coca-Cola's diet drink (Diet Coke) contained 103 to 113 micrograms of 4-MI per can.

And the CSPI Center alleges that Coca-Cola and Pepsi's 4-MIE is responsible for thousands of cancer cases in the US each year.

Based on this research, California state authorities have required manufacturers to put warnings on all foods and beverages containing more than 29 micrograms of 4-MIE (i.e., a much lower level than the concentration found in the products of the two soft drinks above).

However, regarding this issue, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that the current allowable limit of 4-MI in caramel coloring is 250 ppm, 1,000 times higher than the concentration found in Coca-Cola and Pepsi products. Thus, mice would have to drink 1,000 cans of the beverage to reach the level that causes cancer in them.

Sharing the same view, the American Beverage Association argued that CSPI's announcement lacked scientific basis because there was no research confirming that 4-MIE could cause cancer in humans. Meanwhile, not all experimental results on animals had the same effect as on humans. And the problem here requires a new epidemiological study to confirm.

SheetABC NewsAlso reported, the two "bosses" of soft drinks, Coca-Cola and Pepsi, still affirm that their products are safe and have 4-MIE content within the permissible limit..

But on the other hand, to avoid having to carry a cancer warning label, the stateCaliforniaAccording to the regulation, these two companies will change the colorant production formula they are using to reduce the content of 4-MIE in their products.

In addition to cancer, ABC News also mentioned the risk of several health problems for people who drink a lot of soft drinks, including obesity. "If you want to do something good for your health, the only thing you can do today that will have the biggest impact is to cut down on soda and other sugary drinks," the article said.

Talk toVnExpress.net, Mr. Nguyen Khoa My, Director of External Relations of Coca-Cola Company in Southeast Asiasaid that all products of the unit currently consumed on the market comply with regulations in all countries. Management agencies, including VietnamMale, has approved the use of caramel coloring in the company's product lines.

"Coca-Cola disagrees with the decision of the State of California to base its decision on CSPI's research to require warning labels for certain products containing trace amounts of 4-MEI that are formed when certain foods, including caramel, are cooked. The scientific evidence does not support the State of California's position, which applies only to one US state. There are no health risks in California or anywhere else," Mr. My affirmed.

Responding to a question about whether Coca-Cola had changed the coloring formula in its soft drinks to avoid causing cancer, Mr. My said the company had asked its caramel coloring suppliers to make the necessary adjustments to their manufacturing processes to meet California state requirements.

“While we believe there is no health risk resulting from these changes, we are asking our caramel color suppliers to take this step so that our products are not regulated by warnings that have no scientific basis. It is important to note that these adjustments do not change our products,” said Mr. My.

In a statement sent to the media, a representative of PepsiCo Vietnam CompanyMalealso affirms that its products are safe and fully comply with the regulations of countries regarding the permitted content of 4-MEI.

According to Express