FDA has been doing a separate study of benzene in soft drinks, but it is not
ready to release the results, Tarantino said.
The Environmental Working Group has accused the FDA of suppressing
information about benzene in soft drinks.
"If they're so confident the situation is not a safety risk, they need to
release the data to prove it," said Richard Wiles, the group's senior vice
president. "The only data available to the public contradict their claim."
Benzene, a cancer-causing chemical linked to leukemia, can form naturally
and is found in forest fires, gasoline and cigarette smoke. It's widely used
in industrial production to make plastics, rubber, detergents, drugs and
pesticides.
Benzene can also form in soft drinks made with Vitamin C and sodium or
potassium benzoate. Heat, light and shelf life can affect whether benzene
will form, according to FDA.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/04/05/D8GQ64P00.html
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