Killer Cola

[marmar]

(CBSNews) A consumer advocacy group says chemicals that give cola its distinctive caramel color may cause cancer.

CBS News Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton explained on "The Early Show" that the Center for Science in Public Interest (CSPI) is concerned about a chemical that is liberated during the production process of making colas.

"They say (the chemical) has been found in government studies to cause cancer in animals. The State of California is so concerned about this that they have listed one of these ingredients on their list of substances known to cause cancer, and they want to limit the amount to no more than 16 micrograms a day," she said. "To put that into context for you, 20 ounces of cola can contain 12 times that amount."

The artificial brown coloring, according to the CSPI, is made by reacting sugars with ammonia and sulfites under high pressure and temperatures, and those reactions "result in the formation of 2-methylimidazole and 4 methylimidazole, which in government-conducted studies caused lung, liver, or thyroid cancer or leukemia in laboratory mice or rats." ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/02/17/earlyshow/health/main20032758.shtml

[eleny]

1. Good grief

We gave up colas at our house some time ago, but still.

Another good reason to get rid of them from schools.

[cynatnite]

4. I wish I had realized how bad it was for me years ago...

I know now and haven't touched any soda in forever it seems like.

[RedCloud]

2. i have to say from my former job, bastards like that *know* it and probably invest accordingly.

Just like they knew soda cans cause lots of disorders too.

[otohara]

3. Toxic Brown Liquid

sick, fat, costly, death, eco-damaging.

Yet Coke just had another amazing quarter.

[damntexdem]

5. Noooooooooooooo!!!

Is nothing sacred?

;-)