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CFSAN/Office of Food Additive Safety
May 19, 2006; Updated July 12, 2007
In November 2005, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received private laboratory results reporting low levels of benzene in a small number of soft drinks that contained benzoate salts (an antimicrobial) and ascorbic acid (vitamin C). FDA has no standard for benzene in beverages other than bottled water, for which FDA has adopted the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 5 ppb for drinking water, as a quality standard.
Benzene is found in the air from emissions from burning coal and oil, gasoline service stations, and motor vehicle exhaust. Benzene is a carcinogen and has caused cancer in workers exposed to high levels from workplace air. Benzene can form at the parts per billion (ppb) level in some beverages that contain both benzoate salts and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) or erythorbic acid (a closely related substance (isomer) also known as d-ascorbic acid). Elevated temperatures and light can stimulate benzene formation in the presence of benzoate salts and vitamin C, while sugar and EDTA salts inhibit benzene formation.
As follow-up to the November 2005 benzene findings, FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) initiated a limited survey of beverages with a focus on soft drinks that contain both benzoate salts and ascorbic or erythorbic acid. The vast majority of beverages sampled to date (including those containing both benzoate preservative and ascorbic acid) contain either no detectable benzene or levels below the 5 ppb EPA MCL for drinking water.
In May 2006, FDA posted results obtained between November 2005 through April 20, 2006, from CFSAN's survey of benzene in beverages (Table 1). Over 100 soft drinks and other beverage samples were collected from retail stores in Maryland, Virginia, and Michigan. Only four beverage products containing both added benzoates and ascorbic acid contained benzene levels above the 5 ppb EPA MCL for drinking water. One cranberry juice beverage product with added ascorbic acid and only natural levels of benzoic acid (i.e., no added benzoates) also contained benzene above 5 ppb. All five products have been reformulated by the manufacturers. CFSAN tested samples of these reformulated products and found that benzene levels were less than 1 ppb.
FDA is now updating the survey data with results from 86 additional samples that were analyzed from April 21, 2006, through May 16, 2007 (Table 2). These additional samples were collected from retail stores in Maryland, Maine, and Massachusetts. Only five products containing both added benzoates and ascorbic acid contained benzene levels above 5 ppb. Four of these products have been reformulated. CFSAN tested samples of these reformulated products and found that benzene levels were less than 1.5 ppb. The fifth product is no longer manufactured. We are presenting these data to inform the public of FDA’s progress.
These data should not be understood to be a reflection of the distribution of benzene in beverages in the US food supply. The data cover a limited number of products, a limited number of brands, and a limited geographic region. The data do not fully address the variation from one production lot of a product to another lot. For example, when additional lots of some beverage samples initially found to contain benzene levels greater than 5 ppb were analyzed, the results indicate that benzene levels can be highly variable from lot to lot. Even products from the same lot collected at different locations may have different benzene levels depending on many factors such as time at elevated temperatures and amount of light exposure during shipping, handling, and storage. Finally, the choice of products for testing in this limited survey should not be taken as an indicator of product choices by consumers.
Because of the limited survey data to date, we cannot yet understand the sources of variation in measured benzene levels, such as variability between different product lots and the effects of storage and handling. For example, although one sample from a production lot may contain elevated benzene levels, it does not mean that all the products from that lot will have elevated levels, or that all lots of a given product will contain elevated levels. We will continue to collect and analyze samples and to work with industry to better understand the sources of variability. We believe that appropriate steps currently are being taken by industry as well as FDA to make sure that benzene formation in beverages is minimized to levels below EPA’s drinking water standard of 5 ppb. FDA has followed up with companies whose samples of products were found to contain elevated levels of benzene in CFSAN's survey and will continue to follow up with manufacturers as survey results warrant.
Manufacturers have reformulated products, if still manufactured, which have been identified as containing greater than 5 ppb benzene. CFSAN tested samples of these reformulated products and found that benzene levels were less than 1.5 ppb. Reformulated products were provided by the manufacturers or purchased at retail markets and are identified as reformulated in Tables 1 and 2. Additional consumer information may be found in FDA's Statement "Benzene in Soft Drinks" and "Questions and Answers on the Occurrence of Benzene in Soft Drinks and Other Beverages."
PRODUCT | FOUND, ppb | ||
---|---|---|---|
METHOD 1 |
METHOD 2 |
||
Products Containing Benzoate Only | Safeway Select Diet Root Beer, lot 1 | <1 | |
Safeway Select Diet Root Beer, lot 2 | <1 | ||
Safeway Select Diet Cola, lot 1 | 1.3 | ||
Safeway Select Diet Cola, lot 2 | <1 | ||
Food Lion Caffeine Free Diet Cola with Splenda | 1.1 | ||
Diet Dr. Pepper | <1 | ||
Diet Coke Sweetened with Splenda | <1 | ||
Diet Coke | <1 | ||
Diet Pepsi, lot 1 | <1 | ||
Diet Pepsi, lot 2 | <1 | ||
Diet Rite Cola | <1 | ||
A&W Root Beer | n.d. | ||
Diet A&W Root Beer | n.d. | ||
Dr. Pepper | <1 | ||
Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper | <1 | ||
Diet Pepsi Lime | n.d. | ||
Giant Diet Sun Pop Orange, lot 1 | 3.5 | ||
Giant Diet Sun Pop Orange, lot 2 | <1 | ||
Giant Diet Sun Pop Orange, lot 3 | n.d. | ||
Diet Sunkist Orange Soda, lot 1 | <1 | ||
Diet Sunkist Orange Soda, lot 2 | n.d. | ||
Faygo Creme Soda | n.d. | ||
Faygo Orange | <1 | ||
Sprite | <1 | ||
Diet Sprite Zero | n.d. | ||
Canada Dry Ginger Ale | <1 | ||
Squirt Citrus Burst | n.d. | ||
Diet Ruby Red Squirt Citrus Berry Burst | n.d. | ||
Diet Rite Tangerine Soda | n.d. | ||
Jones FuFu Berry Soda | <1 | ||
Jones Sugar-Free Black Cherry Soda | n.d. | ||
Fanta Orange | n.d. | ||
Crush Orange | <1 | ||
Safeway Select Clear Sugar Free Tropical Sparkling Water | n.d. | ||
Nestea Cool Sweetened Lemon Iced Tea | n.d. | ||
AquaCal Strawberry Flavored Water Beverage (reformulated) | n.d. | ||
AquaCal Peach Mango Flavored Water Beverage (reformulated) | n.d. | ||
American Fare Kiwi Strawberry Sparkling Water | n.d. | ||
Canfield's Red Raspberry Sparkling Water | <1 | ||
Fresca Sparkling Peach Citrus Flavored Soda* | n.d. | ||
Diet 7-UP with Splenda* | n.d. | ||
Fresca, Sparkling Citrus* | n.d. | ||
Minute Maid Lemonade* | <1 | ||
Minute Maid Pink Lemonade* | <1 | ||
Products Containing Benzoate + Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) or Erythorbic Acid | Sunkist Orange Soda | <1 | |
Safeway Select Diet Orange, lot 1 | 79.2 | ||
Safeway Select Diet Orange, lot 2 | 15.2 | 10.7 | |
Safeway Select Diet Orange, lot 3 | 13.2 | 11.4 | |
Safeway Select Diet Orange, lot 4 | 1.2 | ||
Shasta Caffeine Free Orange Soda | 1.9 | ||
Antarctica Guarana | <1 | ||
Fanta Pineapple | <1 | ||
Crush Pineapple | 9.2 | ||
Sunny D Citrus Punch, lot 1 | 1.1 | ||
Sunny D Citrus Punch, lot 2 | 3.5 | ||
Sunny D Tangy Original Citrus Punch | n.d. | n.d. | |
Country Time Lemonade | n.d. | ||
Hawaiian Punch Fruit Juicy Red, lot 1 | n.d. | ||
Hawaiian Punch Fruit Juicy Red, lot 2 | n.d. | ||
Tropicana Twister Orange Soda | n.d. | ||
AquaCal Strawberry Flavored Water Beverage, lot 1 | 23.4 | ||
AquaCal Strawberry Flavored Water Beverage, lot 1 (reserve)† | <1 | ||
AquaCal Strawberry Flavored Water Beverage, lot 2 | 10.4 | 9.2 | |
AquaCal Peach Mango Flavored Water Beverage, lot 1 | 2.6 | ||
AquaCal Peach Mango Flavored Water Beverage, lot 2 | 4.0 | 3.4 | |
AquaCal Concord Grape Flavored Water Beverage | 4.6 | 4.0 | |
Lo-Carb MONSTER Energy Supplement | <1 | ||
ROCKSTAR Energy Drink | <1 | <1 | |
BellyWashers Black Cherry Blast Vitamin C Juice Drink, lot 1 | 2.3 | 2.0 | |
BellyWashers Black Cherry Blast Vitamin C Juice Drink, lot 2 | 1.6 | ||
BellyWashers Battle Berry Vitamin C Juice Drink, lot 1 | 2.0 | 1.6 | |
BellyWashers Battle Berry Vitamin C Juice Drink, lot 2 | 1.3 | ||
BellyWashers Web Berry Vitamin C Juice Drink | 1.8 | ||
BellyWashers Eerie Berry Vitamin C Juice Drink | 2.8 | ||
SunnyD Intense Sport, Lemon/Lime | n.d. | ||
Giant Fruity Punch Cooler | <1 | ||
Hawaiian Punch, Fruit Juicy Red | n.d. | ||
Diet Mountain Dew, lot 1** | <1 | ||
Diet Mountain Dew, lot 2** | <1 | ||
Faygo Moon Mist** | 2.8 | ||
Faygo Moon Mist** | 1.4 | ||
Diet Pepsi Twist, lot 1* | n.d. | ||
Diet Pepsi Twist, lot 2* | <1 | ||
Pepsi Vanilla* | <1 | ||
Sierra Mist Free Diet Lemon-Lime Soda* | n.d. | ||
Slice One Diet Berry Soda* | n.d. | ||
Slice One Diet Orange Soda* | n.d. | ||
Tropicana Twister Orange* | n.d. | ||
Sierra Mist Free, Lemon-Lime* | n.d. | ||
Hi-C Blast Orange* | n.d. | ||
Hi-C Blast Orange Supernova* | <1 | ||
Crystal Light Sunrise Classic Orange, lot 1* | 76.6 | 87.9 | |
Crystal Light Sunrise Classic Orange, lot 2* | 1.4 | 1.1 | |
Crystal Light Sunrise Classic Orange, lot 3* | 73.9 | ||
Crystal Light Sunrise Classic Orange, lot 4* | n.d. | ||
Crystal Light Sunrise Classic Orange, lot 5 (reformulated)* | <1 | ||
Tropicana Orangeade* | n.d. | ||
Mountain Dew Sugar Free MDX Energy Soda* | n.d. | ||
Rush! Energy Lite Drink* | 1.4 | ||
AMP Energy Drink* | <1 | ||
Kool-Aid Jammers 10 Juice Drink Tropical Punch* | 2.9 | 2.3 | |
Kool-Aid Jammers Juice Drink Kiwi-Strawberry, lot 1* | 2.0 | 1.5 | |
Country Time Lemonade* | n.d. | ||
Other | Pepsi Cola (no benzoate, ascorbate, or EDTA) | n.d. | |
Crystal Light Sunrise Classic Orange, powder (ascorbate only) | n.d. | ||
Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail (ascorbate only)*** | <1 | ||
Ocean Spray Light Cranberry Juice Cocktail, lot 1 (ascorbate only)*** | 3.0 | 2.5 | |
Ocean Spray Light Cranberry Juice Cocktail, lot 2 (ascorbate only)*** | 4.8 | ||
Giant Light Cranberry Juice Cocktail, lot 1 (ascorbate only)*** | 10.7 | 9.1 | |
Giant Light Cranberry Juice Cocktail, lot 2 (ascorbate only)*** | 5.4 | ||
NEW Crystal Light Sunrise Classic Orange (ascorbate, EDTA) | 1.6 | ||
Kool-Aid Jammers Juice Drink Kiwi-Strawberry, lot 2 (reformulated) (ascorbate, EDTA) †† | <1 | ||
Kool-Aid Jammers 10 Juice Drink Cherry (reformulated) (ascorbate, EDTA) †† | <1 |
*Contains EDTA (a food ingredient used to
promote flavor retention)
**Contains erythorbic acid (d-ascorbic acid,
an isomer of vitamin C)
***May contain natural benzoic acid (benzoate)
†Manufacturer's warehoused reserve sample from this lot
††Kool-Aid Jammers 10 Juice
Drink Cherry and Kool-Aid Jammers Juice Drink Kiwi-Strawberry both are
reformulated products and do not contain benzoate. These products should have
been included in the “Other” category when the results were presented in May
2006. Additionally, the designation as “reformulated” was inadvertently
dropped from the description for Kool-Aid Jammers 10 Juice Drink Cherry.
PRODUCT | FOUND, ppb |
|
---|---|---|
METHOD 2 |
||
Products Containing Benzoate Only | Diet Sunkist Orange Soda | n.d. |
Diet Safeway Select Lemon Lime | n.d. | |
Diet Safeway Select Cherry Lemon Lime | n.d. | |
Diet Safeway Select Orange (reformulated) | n.d. | |
Fanta Pineapple (reformulated) | n.d. | |
Fanta Orange (Lot 1) | <1 | |
Fanta Orange (Lot 2) | <1 | |
Crush Pineapple (reformulated) | n.d. | |
Polar Orange * | <1 | |
Diet Polar Orange | <1 | |
Diet Polar Orange (reformulated) * | 1.1 | |
Clear Splash, Tangerine Lime | n.d. | |
Clear Splash, Wild Cherry | n.d. | |
AquaCal Strawberry Flavored Water Beverage | n.d. | |
AquaCal Concord Grape Flavored Water Beverage | n.d. | |
AquaCal Concord Grape Flavored Water Beverage | n.d. | |
Realemon | <1 | |
Products Containing Benzoate + Ascorbate (Vitamin C) or Erythorbate | Sunkist Orange Soda (Lot 1) | <1 |
Sunkist Orange Soda (Lot 2) | 1.4 | |
Sunkist Orange Soda (Lot 3) | 1.0 | |
Safeway Select Orange | 2.7 | |
Diet Safeway Select Orange (Lot 1) | 13.8 | |
Diet Safeway Select Orange (Lot 2) | 12.1 | |
Safeway Select Punch | <1 | |
Diet ROCKSTAR Energy Drink (Lot 1) | <1 | |
Diet ROCKSTAR Energy Drink (Lot 2) | 1.0 | |
Fanta Pineapple (Lot 1) | 11.2 | |
Fanta Pineapple (Lot 2) | n.d. | |
Assault Monster Energy (Lot 1) | <1 | |
Assault Monster Energy (Lot 2) | <1 | |
BellyWashers Black Cherry Blast Vitamin C Juice Drink (Lot 1) ††† | 40.1 | |
BellyWashers Black Cherry Blast Vitamin C Juice Drink (Lot 2 ) ††† | 88.9 | |
Fruit20 Plus 10 Natural Apple Flavored Water Beverage * | n.d. | |
Fruit20 Plus 10 Natural Berry Flavored Water Beverage | n.d. | |
Hawaiian Punch Fruit Juicy Red | n.d. | |
Hawaiian Punch Lemonade | <1 | |
Vault ** | n.d. | |
Vault Zero *, ** | <1 | |
Sunny D Orange Flavored Citrus Punch (Lot 1) | n.d. | |
Sunny D Orange Flavored Citrus Punch (Lot 2) | 5.2 | |
Sunny D Orange Flavored Citrus Punch (Lot 3) | 6.6 | |
Sunny D Orange Flavored Citrus Punch (reformulated) * | n.d. | |
Diet Lipton Green Tea w/Citrus * | <1 | |
Tropicana Orangeade * | 1.2 | |
Tropicana Twister Orange * | n.d. | |
Tropicana Sugar Free Orangeade * | <1 | |
Tropicana Sugar Free Fruit Punch * | <1 | |
Tropicana Sugar Free Lemonade (Lot 1) * | <1 | |
Tropicana Sugar Free Lemonade (Lot 2) * | n.d. | |
Sierra Mist Free (Lot 1) * | n.d. | |
Sierra Mist Free (Lot 2) * | n.d. | |
SoBe No Fear Gold * | <1 | |
Hi-C Blast Orange * | n.d. | |
Crystal Light Classic Orange (Lot 1) * | n.d. | |
Crystal Light Classic Orange (Lot 2) * | n.d. | |
Kool-Aid Jammers Juice Drink Cherry * | 5.2 | |
Kool-Aid Jammers 10 Juice Drink Tropical Punch * | n.d. | |
Country Time Lemonade * | n.d. | |
Diet Pepsi Twist (Lot 1) * | <1 | |
Diet Pepsi Twist (Lot 2) * | 2.3 | |
Products Containing Ascorbate (Vitamin C) or Erythorbate | Talking Rain Ice Black Raspberry | <1 |
Talking Rain Ice Orange Mango | n.d. | |
Talking Rain Ice Pink Grapefruit | n.d. | |
Ocean Spray Light Cranberry Juice Cocktail *** | 3.4 | |
Ocean Spray Cranberry Blend *** | 1.3 | |
Ocean Spray Diet Cranberry Spray (Lot 1) *** | <1 | |
Ocean Spray Diet Cranberry Spray (Lot 2) *** | <1 | |
Ocean Spray Light White Cranberry *** | <1 | |
Ocean Spray White Cranberry *** | n.d. | |
Ocean Spray Diet Orange Citrus Spray (Lot 1) | n.d. | |
Ocean Spray Diet Orange Citrus Spray (Lot 2) | 2.5 | |
Northland Cranberry Juice *** | <1 | |
Giant Light Cranberry Raspberry (Lot 1) *** | n.d. | |
Giant Light Cranberry Raspberry (Lot 2) *** | <1 | |
Giant Light Cranberry Grape *** | n.d. | |
Apple & Eve Light Cranberry (Lot 1) *** | 4.8 | |
Apple & Eve 100% Cranberry (Lot 2) *** | <1 | |
Old Orchard Apple Cranberry *** | <1 | |
Shur Fine Cranberry Juice Cocktail *** | 2.3 | |
Harvest Classic Cranberry Juice *** | 2.3 | |
Giant Light Fruity Punch Cooler | 2.3 | |
New Crystal Light Sunrise Classic Orange * | n.d. | |
Kool-Aid Jammers Juice Drink Cherry (reformulated) * | n.d. | |
Kool-Aid Jammers Juice Drink Tropical Punch * | <1 | |
Other | Giant Light Cranberry Juice Cocktail *** | 2.6 |
Giant Light Cranberry Juice Cocktail (reformulated) *** | <1 |
*Contains EDTA (a food ingredient used to promote flavor
retention)
**Contains erythorbic acid (d-ascorbic acid, an isomer of
vitamin C)
***May contain natural benzoic acid (benzoate)
†††Black Cherry Blast is a discontinued
product. Bellywashers are now made with 100% juice and no preservatives.
Chemical Name: benzene
IUPAC International Chemical Identifier:
InChI=1/C6H6/c1-2-4-6-5-3-1/h1-6H