health

Coke, Pepsi make changes to avoid cancer warning

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" 4-methylimidazole"

My advise: Don't drink or eat anything that has numbers, too many letters and is difficult to pronounce.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

a person would need to drink massive amounts of cola to reach a risk level similar to the dosing in mice—2,900 cans of cola every day for 70 years

great, what kind of refrigerator would I need for my daily dose of 2900 cans? I probably die of diabetes before I get cancer!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Who are these people who threatened Coke & Pepsi with having to put cancer warning labels on their containers if people would have to drink 2,900 cans a day to equal the dosage of the rats? Can they be sued for harrassment?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Serrano: "California voters".

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I love coke but is fattening, and hurts my stomach.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

It's not just about drinking "2900 cans" and getting cancer. It's about risk factors Suppose you drink a few cans of cola a day with this 4-MEI ( and maybe with artificial sweetners) , smoke, breath in air pollution, eat a poor diet, have exposure to chemicals, etc. If you combine of these things and they occur over a lifetime, your odds of developing cancer increase greatly. So don't ridicule these studies. All that poison can add up.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I like the way the article makes it seem like a general law created to protect the general health and safety of the general public is now a specific attack on Coke and Pepsi because those two find themselves inconvenienced and need to get a client to make a process change. Did I say I like the gist of the article? In fact I don't like it at all!

And I don't feel too inclined to believe the ABA about the mice either. Might as well believe the IAEA is on our side rather than TEPCO.

Large corporations made to change their behavior from time to time is something that makes me smile. I don't smile nearly enough.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I seldom get headaches, but if I do get one I down a can of Coke and ... bingo ... about 20 minutes later the ache is gone. Also find that some Coke does wonders to eliminate a yucky taste in the mouth after eating greasy foods. So, I'll stick to my occasional cola no matter what ...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I am a cola addict. But I would rather have RC or root beer than coke or pepsi.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Also find that some Coke does wonders to eliminate a yucky taste in the mouth after eating greasy foods.

I find cola puts a yucky taste in the mouth.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

A kalimotxo (coke+red wine) on a hot summer night is not bad.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Coca Cola and Pepsi are pure filth.

Disgusting!

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

To get through 2,900 cans of cola every day you would need to drink 120.8 cans every hour. Yeah I really can't see anyone achieving that. Silly silly Californians......

1 ( +2 / -2 )

"California voters"

Can they be sued for harrassment?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

29-microgram benchmark for 4-MEI in products. Anything higher than that must carry a warning label

Coke and Pepsi drink cans showed levels ranging between 103 and 153 micrograms

In a way, I am happy someone is actually testing popular products for safety level regulations set by governments. Some people may not drink the products, but worldwide, these two products are bestsellers.

Can we get the same body to do some tests over here in Japan, for radiation safety?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

“In fact, findings of regulatory agencies worldwide, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, European Food Safety Authority and Health Canada, consider caramel coloring safe for use in foods and beverages.”

California voters passed Proposition 65 in 1986, and the law aims to protect state residents from “chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm, and to inform citizens about exposures to such chemicals.”

Sometimes there is too much democracy. So some lay voters who know nothing about acceptable risk are overriding the county's watchdogs (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). For what reason?

It has been shown again and again, most people have a very bad perception of risk.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

One have to take care of ones health, the producers of these food products are concerned about making money, they are not concern about the publics health. It is the wise not to consume too many of these products, since everything these days contain some sort of chemical, and it is almost impossble to consume anything these days without getting some sort of bad chemical in trace amount which build up in the body and cause problem later. Since cancer is on the rise every year, then it is wise to avoid them as best we can.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Coke, Pepsi and most of those soft drinks are chemical soup. Glad I gave them up.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Coke & Pepsi don't have your best health in mind. Just want you to buy the sugar water and chemical soup and shut up.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

So one product has carcinogens (cancer causing elements) in it. Do you honestly think that's the ONLY thing with carcinogens in it???

The point is they need to reduce these carcinogens in EVERYTHING because they add up. We now have the highest level of deaths by cancer in history.

And you guys are actually arguing FOR KEEPING CARCINOGENS IN OUR FOOD?? All we are doing is forcing these companies who care nothing for us except our MONEY to label their products accurately.

We didn't ask them to change their cancer causing formulas! They're doing it because they don't want people to know!

I'm proud to be a Californian. At least we THINK.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I would agree with JapanGal Drinking to much would make you fat and cause a more rapid health concern with obesity than cancer I have just looked at the contents label and come to the conclusion you are probably safer smoking cigarettes. Drink these things responsibly!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Sometimes there is too much democracy. So some lay voters who know nothing about acceptable risk are overriding the county's watchdogs (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). For what reason?

As far as "overriding the county's watchdogs"... I would respond with an overwhelming, YES! The USFDA and other federal agencies typically have a revolving door with the corporations they regulate, sooo it would only be in citizens' best interests to further review their findings. I appreciate CA and their diligence requiring companies to disclosure potentially cancer causing agents in products sold in their state.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I understand the effects of all soda - that it is bad for you and that it also builds up a fatty layer over every inner part of your body ... bones, intestines, liver, stomach, kidneys, lungs, heart, etc... so over years (even diet drinks do this) you have a beer belly... I get it - its bad for you.

All things done in moderation is the key. I enjoy my soda. I love it... I was an addict - to the point if I went longer than a day without it, I would get shaky. Over pregnancies and lifestyle for my kids I have weened myself from it. Yet that doesnt mean that I dont enjoy a good soda --- cola included --- every so often.

While this is good to know... I will continue to drink it as I like. ... only with moderation compared to my younger days. I do appriciate Californians for caring enough to at least try to make their 'bad for you' time a little less bad for you.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I understand the effects of all soda - that it is bad for you and that it also builds up a fatty layer over every inner part of your body ... bones, intestines, liver, stomach, kidneys, lungs, heart, etc... so over years (even diet drinks do this) you have a beer belly

No, Debbie, it does not do this. It's not like it's motor oil and your body is a car engine.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Drink responsibly and eat healthy and it shouldn't be a problem. But a lot of people have problems with moderation and do not actively think of their health...

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Having all these diet cokes on the market is a crime against humanity.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

<>It is better to avoid.Coke and pepsi.Our tea is better than these poisonous drink. They are better to be used as a toilet cleaner.Sprincle a tin of these toilet cleaner in your toilet , and not in your body or stomach.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

a person would need to drink massive amounts of cola to reach a risk level similar to the dosing in mice—2,900 cans of cola every day for 70 years

So some scientist was given a research grant to blast untold numbers of mice with the equivalent of 2,900 cans of cola for basically their whole lifespan? And they wonder why the animal research people have such a bad rep.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Nessie - you need to check all your facts before you tell me no... try this link for starters... from the Washington Post Social Reader. I couldnt find a better link - sorry. https://apps.facebook.com/wpsocialreader/me/channels/78114/content/8X6rk?fb_action_ids=316032438442732&fb_action_types=news.reads&fb_source=other_multiline

it starts off with (paraphrased) 3 Surprising Reasons to Give Up Soda (published 8 weeks ago)

It causes invisible fat buildup around your organs. In the latest bad news for the soda industry, Danish researchers discovered that drinking non-diet soda leads to dramatic increases in dangerous hidden fats. Some contain toxic flame retardants. Some popular soda brands, including Mountain Dew, use a toxic flame retardant chemical ingredient to keep the artificial flavoring from separating from the rest of the liquid. You're taking part in the biggest science experiment on the planet. Many soda brands on the market in America today are sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup, a heart-harming man-made compound derived mainly from genetically engineered (GE) corn.

you need to read the entire article to get the full detail. But this is the start.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I agree completely that we should really be minimizing the amount of synthetic and non-food chemicals we ingest -- and even the amount we expose ourselves to in cleaning and daily life. But I have to say, the argument that something is dangerous because it causes cancer in lab rats is at least a little misleading. I have a pair of pet rats and I read up on them, and these news articles give me a chuckle ever since.

EVERYTHING causes cancer in rats. They are notoriously sensitive and are often used to "prove" something is carcinogenic. Citrus fruit can give rats cancer -- honestly, that's one you can expect not to hear on the news headlines. "Orange juice found to cause cancer in lab rats! Are our children safe?" They have very different physiology from humans. Sure they're naturally scavengers who can eat anything, but that's why they only live about 2-3 years.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Normal Pepsi and Coke ingredients :

Caramel color : 4-methylimidazole link to cancer

High fructose corn syrup : link to Diabetes , Obesity in America and soon the world

Phosphoric acid ; powerful rust removal , link to bones and kidney deceases, also destroy your stomach protective coat making you have heartburns , Etc....

Natural flavors : not found in nature, cheap to make and too complicated to pronounce ,

Caffeine : linked to high blood pressure, low bone density and addicting.

Potassium Benzoate : makes your body low pH, link to athletes foot, jockage , turns your body into a living mold , combined with some " natural flavors(ascorbic acid)" can be a powerful carcinogenic agents for your skin (Cancer) , also very widely use for making fireworks (whistler)

Iodized Salt : Stroke and cardiovascular disease, oh also , Stomach Cancer

Carbonated water : the lesser of the evils , low pH water,

now , that means "Money" for Drugs companies to make money out of you

and take away years from your Health!!!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I have to agree with Cleo, this is bad science and a scramble to make headlines to get more grant money. Phoey!

Not that I drink pop (soda) anyway, I prefer beer or water.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

EVERYTHING causes cancer in rats. ..... They have very different physiology from humans.

Yet millions of them are used each year to test whether stuff is safe for human use. I don't think a single rat is needed to show that cola is not something anyone should be imbibing in huge quantities.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

The only thing I've ever enjoyed from Pepsi are the ads they used to make with celebrities... Britney's ones were the best.

The drink, however, is dire.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

zichi

Animal experimentation is not required for any product, there are advanced computer models which come up with more accurate results.

Absolutely not true. Any new drug introduced is required to be tested on animals then humans through trials. And how do you think scientists work out if things are carcinogenic?

Advanced computer models? Are you kidding?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

While I don't agree with this particular trial as i hate Soda.

Have to agree with 2020hindsights.

Humans and Animals are way to complex to be computer modeled on an affordable and realistic basis. Hence why cancer-drugs for example are 1st tested on animals and than human volunteer groups vs a test-group on older drugs. Not just for the effectiveness in fighting the cancer but also for side-effects both physical and mental.

Unless each laboratory can afford the best and quickest super-computer and top-experts in designing and programming those models(which are created based on physical observation, etc).

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

cleo

Yet millions of them are used each year to test whether stuff is safe for human use. I don't think a single rat is needed to show that cola is not something anyone should be imbibing in huge quantities.

I agree with the second statement. However, that's not what they are doing. They are testing whether something is carcinogenic. And it looks like the conclusion is yes it is, but only such massive quantities that it wouldn't be possible to make a difference by drinking Coke alone.

Yet, these funky Californians have decided that it is still too much. All Coca Cola are doing is reducing an already safe level to a lower one. It won't make any difference, but people like to live in fear and will say any amount is too much. A sadly common and rather pointless way of thinking.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Any new drug introduced is required to be tested on animals then humans through trials.

It's a legal requirement backed up by the need to keep otherwise useless scientists supplied with research grants. As doombird reminds us, rats are not people, and testing stuff on rats (or dogs, or cats, or any other non-human animal) tells us nothing about how the human body will react. Chocolate is toxic in animals and can kill dogs. Macadamia nuts cause tremors in dogs. Onions cause the red blood cells in a cat to burst, bringing on acute anaemia. If chocolate, nuts and onions were 'required to be tested on animals', they would never have made it to the supermarket shelves. Likewise plenty of new wonder drugs, duly 'tested' on animals, are released onto the market each year, only to be quickly withdrawn when humans show adverse reactions. The one we all know about is Thalidomide, but that certainly isn't the only one.

how do you think scientists work out if things are carcinogenic?

Maybe they could do it by looking at people in the real world, consuming realistic amounts of things?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I just want to live until I die. That may sound like a simple statement, but it gets increasingly hard to live a life with any sort of freedom of choice. There is an ever increasing number of people and government agencies that want to tell me what to believe, eat, think and buy. The scary part is the US governments increasing number of regulations to restrict the sale and purchase of what it deems unhealthy food, and the horde of sheeple who can’t take a shite without a five page MSD on toilet paper and a warning label on the toilet lid for possibility of getting a hangnail. PLEASE eat,drink and live your life the way you want to, just leave ME out of your masterplan.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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