May 29, 2007

• MAYBE APPLES AND ORANGES DON'T MIX AFTERALL

  London's latest scare involves the soft drink industry. Apparently, when you combine vitamin C with the preservative sodium benzoate, you form benzene; shown to cause cell damage and eventually lead to cirrhosis of the liver and degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's. Popular sodas, like Orange Fanta, apparently contain this combination.

  According to a chemical assessment document from the International Programme on Chemical Safety, sodium benzoate, aka E211, is primarily used as an anticorrosive additive to antifreeze among other things. I'm feeling more refreshed by the minute. But wait, it also naturally occurs in apples; so are they telling us not eat apples and oranges together?

  What to do, what to do?

  Well you could imbibe less or avoid bottled soft drinks containing the questionable combo [wouldn't you know it, Mt. Dew, which wasn't on the list, apparently contains both.] or you could wait for more research from the FDA. Whatever they decide, they better not touch Gatorade...or Dr. Pepper or...

  • 1:22 pm
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