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To avoid cancer warnings, Coca-Cola and Pepsi alter chemicals

By | March 11, 2012, 10:00 AM PDT

Coca Cola and Pepsi have to reduce the level of a chemical in their colas to avoid labeling their products with a cancer warning, Reuters report.

Both companies said on Friday that they have asked their suppliers of the caramel coloring they use to alter the manufacturing process so they can meet the requirements of a Californian ballot initiative. The goal of the ballot is to limit people’s exposure to toxic chemicals. This particular chemical, 4-Methalymidazole or 4-MI, was added to the list of chemicals covered by California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, also known as Proposition 65.

The California statute says that “no person in the course of doing business shall knowingly and intentionally expose any individual to an alchemical known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity without first giving a clear and reasonable warning…”

Both companies have stated that they have started to reduce the chemical in their production in California and will expand the use of the reduced 4-MI caramel coloring over time. Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc said that all the caramel coloring being produced meets the new California standard.

However, earlier this week, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a U.S. watchdog group, said they found unsafe levels of the chemical not just in Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola cans, but also Dr Pepper and Whole Foods Market’s 365 Cola. A spokes person from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said that a person would have to drink well over a thousand cans of soda a day to reach the dose that links to cancer in rodents.

Coca-Cola spokesman Ben Shielder said the modification to the manufacturer process will have no effect on the formula, color or taste of Coca-Cola.

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Ina Damm Muri

About Ina Damm Muri

Ina Damm Muri was a weekend editor for SmartPlanet in 2012.

Ina Damm Muri

Ina Damm Muri

Weekend Editor

Ina Damm Muri is a multimedia journalist based in New York. Previously, she worked at Aspen Magazine, CBS4 Denver and the Daily Camera in Boulder. She holds two degrees from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Follow her on Twitter.

Ina Damm Muri

Ina Damm Muri

Ina Damm Muri does not have financial holdings that would influence how or what she covers.

She writes for SmartPlanet and is not an employee of CBS.

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grammar error
2 college degrees and still got it wrong.

"coloring they use to alter there manufacturing process" should be
"coloring they use to alter their manufacturing process"

Even MS Word indicated the error.
Posted by TrueDinosaur
12th Mar 2012
0 Votes
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Yes!
I don't think the 2 college degrees are the embarrassing parts. Could have been a while ago. What is really bad is that her career is writing.
Posted by ManoaHI
12th Mar 2012
+1 Vote
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I apologize
I truly apologize for the typo. Haste is waste-- and embarrassing.
Posted by imuri
12th Mar 2012
+1 Vote
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I apologize
I truly apologize for my typo, but I appreciate that you pointed it out.
Posted by imuri
Updated - 12th Mar 2012
0 Votes
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the thing is a little funny
The screeching complainy noise comes from California about everything! Yet a person would "have to drink well over a thousand cans of soda a day to reach the dose that links to cancer in rodents." It is over reaction.
Posted by opcom
21st Nov
0 Votes
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No More UNHEALTHY drinks!
VEMMA And VERVE Healthy Energy!
The original superfruit in a super formula
Posted by MatthewCANADA
23rd Dec
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