Pepsi Still To Remove Cancer-Causing Chemical From Products, CEH Study Shows

More than a year after promising to remove the chemical 4-methylimidazole (4-Mel) from the caramel coloring it uses for its products, Pepsi still uses coloring with high levels of the cancer-causing chemical, according to tests conducted by the Center for Environmental Health. CEH through an independent laboratory it has commissioned conducted 4-Mel testing on Coke and Pepsi products from California and other states. Results showed that Pepsi products bought from outside California contain levels of the chemical that are 4 to more than 8 times higher than California’s safety levels. CEH says industrial production of caramel coloring creates 4-Mel as a by-product; however, changes in the manufacturing process can cut or remove the chemical without changing the coloring.