New Law Passed on Soda Ingredients
In California, a new law was recently passed that requires beverages which have a certain level of carcinogens now have a cancer warning label on the bottle.
Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo Inc., which account for almost 90% of the soda market, according to Beverage Digest, are changing the way they make the caramel coloring used in their sodas in response to the new law. Although these companies have already made the changes for their beverages sold in California, there will soon be national changes in order to streamline their manufacturing processes.
The Associated Press has reported that Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are changing the way they produce the caramel coloring which is used their sodas in order to reduce the amount of ammonia sulfite, a carcinogen that has been linked to cancer in animals by consumer advocates.
However, Coke and Pepsi are making themselves clear about their opinion of this new law. They are pointing out that the decision to change their production of the caramel coloring was designed to avoid the warning label on cans and bottles – which could hurt sales. A Coca-Cola spokesman called the law “scientifically unfounded.”
The FDA also points out that the chemical in question is only dangerous in extremely large quantities. A statement by the FDA says, “A consumer would have to consume well over a thousand cans of soda a day to reach the doses administered in the studies that have shown links to cancer in rodents.”
The American Beverage Association, which represents both Coke and Pepsi, said consumers will not notice a difference taste or appearance of the product because of these changes.
What’s your opinion? Do you think the government is becoming too controlling of what we choose to eat and drink? Or, do you think this precaution is reasonable?
Soda Image via Shutterstock