For many Americans daily consumption of Coke and Pepsi products are common place and not easy to give up. Americans love cola drinks. The dark coloring in them, however, may make them a cancer risk for consumers. The color of such drinks is made using caramel preparations, some types of which have been proven to be carcinogenic.
Michael Jacobson, Executive Director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest believes the government needs to ban caramel coloring because several years ago the National Toxicology program tested a contaminant in this particular type of additive and discovered it caused cancer in mice and rats. That means there could be a potential cancer risk for humans who consume this type of caramel coloring in various food products.
How is Caramel Coloring Carcinogenic?
According to the article, “CSPI: Caramel Coloring in Coke, Pepsi Can Cause Cancer; Industry Disputes Claim”, pure caramel is made by heating sugar. However, the particular type of coloring found in cola is created by reacting sugars with ammonia. The chemicals the reaction produces have been proven by federal government tests to be cancer-causing.
What are the risks of Cola and Cancer?
There are four kinds of caramel coloring that the Food and Drug Administration have approved. The Center for Science for in the Public Interest wants the FDA to prohibit the two kinds that are made with ammonia, 4-MEI and 2-MEI.
Though the Center for Science in the Public Interest claims that colas, whiskey and other foods using the caramel coloring are carcinogenic, the Coca Cola Company disputes the accusations saying that their studies prove otherwise.
Dr. Fred Guengerich, professor of biochemistry at Vanderbilt University, claims that both sides of the debate have validity. He commented on the question, "Is it a carcinogen? The tests have shown in mice it can increase the risk of cancer. On the other hand, there is also evidence in male rats, it prevented several kinds of cancer.”
In conclusion, Dr. Guengerich advises that people should relax about the issue. He claims that a human would have to drink more that 1000 colas a day to face the risk that affected the mice. Even as much as Americans love their cola drinks, 1000 of them a day would be a stretch for even the most fervent of cola connoisseurs.
References:
- ABC News Health: “CSPI: Caramel Coloring in Coke, Pepsi Can Cause Cancer; Industry Disputes Claim” (last accessed 7/12/11)
- ABC-7.com: “Report: Caramel coloring could cause cancer” (last accessed 7/12/11)
- Change.org: “Coke, Pepsi Get Color from Cancer-Causing Chemicals” (last accessed 7/12/11)
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