I received an email the other day, from my mother, telling me about the dangers of benzene in soft drinks. She sent me an AP article stating:
Benzene Levels in Soft Drinks Above Limit
and
FDA Finds Benzene Levels in Soft Drinks Above Tap Water Limit

Apparently the FDA has finally come out to officially state this information that profit seeking companies have ignored for so long. Here's a link to that article.

Benzene is a carcinogen. It is used as an additive in gasoline and is used in the process of making drugs/medicines, plastics, and synthetic rubbers.

A chemist at Cadbury Schweppes revealed that benzene may be created as part of a chemical reaction during production of soft drinks, particularly those having an orange flavor. Full scale investigations immediately started at the Food and Drug Administration (USA), Food Standards Agency (UK), and in Germany to reveal exactly which amounts of benzene, if any, were present, with several other organizations awaiting their findings. The key ingredients leading to the formation of benzene during production would according to his claims be ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and sodium benzoate. Of equal concern, the chemist told media the soda industry have known of this problem for 15 years, and supports himself with document copies explaining how benzene is a possible byproduct of these ingredients that exist in over a thousand soft drinks. More than extremely small trace amounts found after investigation would be of major concern, as benzene is a very aggressive carcinogen even in small amounts, and may among other things lead to leukemia.

On April 6, 2006, the FDA said that Cancer-causing benzene has been found in soft drinks at levels above the limit considered safe for drinking water. Even so, the FDA still believes there are no safety concerns about benzene in soft drinks, or sodas, said Laura Tarantino, the agency's director of food additive safety. "We haven't changed our view that right now, there is not a safety concern, not a public health concern," she said. "But what we need to do is understand how benzene forms and to ensure the industry is doing everything to avoid those circumstances."The admission contradicted statements made a week earlier, when officials said FDA found insignificant levels of benzene.In fact, a different study found benzene at four times the tap water limit, on average, in 19 of 24 samples of diet soda.

Well apparently, the FDA can't make up it's mind on another crucial issue. Must be difficult juggling all those agendas. i'm so tired now. goodnight/morning to all. skip the soda!!!!