14 DAY TRIAL // An investigation carried out by a group named CEH (Center for Environmental Health) has revealed that Pepsi products presently marketed in 10 American states contain a chemical compound that can cause people to develop cancer.
The carcinogen compound is named 4-methylimidazole (4-MeI, for short). It is used as a food coloring.
“Pepsi purchased from ten states still contains high levels of the carcinogen, according to independent testing commissioned by the Center for Environmental Health (CEH),” the group writes in a press release issued on July 3.
CEH explains that, in March 2012, both Coca Cola and PepsiCo promised that they would take measures to phase out this chemical from their production lines.
However, it appears that Coca Cola has been the only company to stand by its word.
“The CEH testing shows that Coke has largely reformulated, but tests on Pepsi products show the company is still using caramel coloring containing the cancer-causing chemical 4-methylimidazole (4-MeI) in all ten products tested from outside of California.”
The Coca Cola and Pepsi products that CEH tested had been sent to them by supporters living outside the state of California.
Nine out of the 10 Coca Cola products tested by the group contained little or no 4-Mei. On the other hand, all of the Pepsi products contained worrying concentrations of this chemical compound.
Oddly enough, Pepsi products marketed in California were found not to contain this cancer-causing food coloring.
“The nonprofit purchased Coke and Pepsi this May in California, and tests show that both colas have been reformulated in California,” CEH explains.
However, “Tests show that outside California, Pepsi contains levels of the cancer-causing chemical that are from 4 to more than 8 times higher than California safety levels.”
After learning about the results of these independent tests carried out by CEH, Pepsi responded by sending the organization an email signed by the company's Senior Director Aurora Gonzalez.
“Our caramel coloring suppliers have been working on modifying the manufacturing process to reduce the amount of 4-MEI. As you know, 4-MEI levels in our products in California are below Prop 65 levels. The rest of the U.S. will be completed by February 2014. In fact, we’ll be starting the process and shipping concentrate end of this year,” the email reads.