Caution: Some
soft drinks may seriously harm your health
Expert links additive to cell damage
By Martin Hickman, Consumer Affairs
Correspondent
A new health scare erupted over soft drinks last night amid
evidence they may cause serious cell damage. Research from a British university suggests a common
preservative found in drinks such as Fanta and Pepsi Max has the
ability to switch off vital parts of DNA.
The problem - more usually associated with ageing and alcohol abuse
- can eventually lead to cirrhosis of the liver and degenerative
diseases such as Parkinson's.
The findings could have serious consequences for the hundreds of
millions of people worldwide who consume fizzy drinks. They will
also intensify the controversy about food additives, which have
been linked to hyperactivity in children.
Concerns centre on the safety of E211, known as sodium benzoate, a
preservative used for decades by the £74bn global carbonated drinks
industry. Sodium benzoate derives from benzoic acid. It occurs
naturally in berries, but is used in large quantities to prevent
mould in soft drinks such as Sprite, Oasis and Dr Pepper. It is
also added to pickles and sauces.
(for rest of the story, clicky here => The Independent)
