FDA finds benzene in five bottled drinks

WASHINGTON – A government analysis of more than 100 soft drinks and other beverages turned up five with levels of cancer-causing benzene that exceed federal drinking-water standards, the Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

The companies that make the drinks have been alerted and either have reformulated their products or plan to do so, the FDA said. Government health officials maintain there is no safety concern, an opinion not shared by at least one environmental group.

“FDA’s test results confirm that there is a serious problem with benzene in soda and juices,” said Richard Wiles, senior vice president at Environmental Working Group.

The five drinks listed by the government were Safeway Select Diet Orange, Crush Pineapple, AquaCal Strawberry Flavored Water Beverage, Crystal Light Sunrise Classic Orange and Giant Light Cranberry Juice Cocktail. The high levels of benzene were found in specific production lots of the drinks, the FDA said.

Benzene, a chemical linked to leukemia, can form in soft drinks containing two ingredients: Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, and either of the two preservatives: sodium benzoate and potassium benzoate.

The presence of those ingredients doesn’t mean benzene is present. Scientists say factors such as heat or light exposure can trigger a reaction that forms benzene in the beverages.

Federal rules limit benzene levels in drinking water to 5 parts per billion. A limited FDA analysis of store-bought drinks found benzene levels as high as 79 parts per billion in one lot of Safeway Select Diet Orange.

Teena Massingill, manager of corporate public affairs for Safeway, said the company reformulated the drink before the FDA even contacted it.

Kraft Foods Inc. stopped producing and shipping Crystal Light earlier this year. The company reformulated the product.

Meridian Beverage Co., which makes AquaCal, also reformulated its product, spokesman Bob Hope said.

Messages left seeking comment with representatives for Giant Food and Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages, the maker of Crush, were not immediately returned.