A nonprofit group called the food and Drug Administration (FDA), artificial caramel colouring to Coca-Cola and Pepsi, other foods are used because the animal studies suggest that the additive with two carcinogenic substances is polluted to ban.
The Center for Science in the public (CSPI) interest filed a regulatory petition to the FDA on Wednesday to ban it, which contains two chemicals, 2-Methylimidazole and 4-Methylimidazole (MI - 2 and 4-MI, also known as MEI-2 and 4 - MEI), by the Government of the studies led the artificial brown color, liver, lungs, leukemia and cancer was caused by the thyroid gland in rats and mice in the laboratory.
Executive Director, CSPI said Dr. Michael F Jacobson, the media, the:
"Carcinogenic dyes have no place in the food supply, especially when you consider that their only function is cosmetic."
He calls the FDA "Act fast, to revoke its consent to caramel coloring with ammonia".
The CSPI say artificial caramel colouring in food products used and beverage industry is "very different from real caramel" and is not in the same way as you could at home through the merger of sugar in a saucepan.
Them according to the manufacturer to the Brown coloration led artificial sugar which react with ammonia and sulphites under pressure and high temperatures, and this to the creation of two chemicals.
The current federal regulations about the four types of dye caramel: two that are made with ammonia. It is the FDA who want to ban CSPI to these two. One is known as the caramel-III and the other as IV of caramel.
Caramel III is with ammonia, but not sulphites, acting for beer color the sauce, soya beans and other foods. Caramel IV with ammonia and sulphites and is used for staining, Cola and other soft drinks dark.
Their case the so-called CSPI chemicals that cause cancer in animals shall, for carcinogenic potential for humans and animal cite studies that health sciences, it showed "evidence National Toxicology program, a division of the National Institute of environmental y" in animals cause cancer to the MI-2 and 4-MI.
Them according to researchers at the University of California, Davis, significant quantities of 4 - found MI in five brands Cola.
Some scientists, who are among the five experts on the causes of cancer in animals, on the National Toxicology program that the CSPI on the complaint of the FDA ban on the use of artificial caramel, with ammonia belong.
She wrote a letter to the Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg for the food and drug, who said:
"The American public should be made unavailable a risk of cancer due to the consumption of these chemicals, especially if they non-essential purposes, cosmetics.".
The CSPI is also, that the expression "colouring caramel" is misleading when used to describe, that those who should be allowed with ammonia or sulphites, and manufacturers of products which contain them as "natural". They claim that it would be more accurate to phrases such as "process of ammonia caramel" or "Ammonia sulfite process caramel" use.
Jacobson, said that "Dye think caramel" meant most people "of caramel color", but this ingredient is nothing like caramel ordinary as in caramels, is "a dark brown concentrate mixture of chemicals that just didn't work in nature."
He said even if caramel is regular not good for your health, "at least not with carcinogens is tainted."
The CSPI points out that California has 4 - MI in the list which "may lead chemicals to cancer", that is, of the rules of Proposition 65 of California, food or other products that have a certain amount of these carcinogenic substances must carry warnings. In California, the threshold of 4 - MI is 16 micrograms per person and per day for a single product.
But popular Cola around 200 micrograms 4 - MI 20 ounces (0.6 litre) bottle, say the CSPI that lower than many people consume every day, especially for the growing young. When California of this legislation is completed, would then Pepsi, coke and other soft drinks bear labels that say that contain these chemicals that can cause cancer.
CSPI initiative provoked a strong reaction of the manufacturer.
The American Association of drinks (ABA), said that there was a "scandalous and unacceptable, trying to fool and scare the public," group that "His life bashing makes the beverage and food industry."
You told the press that the CSPI "based not on scientific principles and unnecessary solves petition the fears of consumers."
They accuse the CSPI to carry out a campaign of dye caramel is harmful for 4 - MI, a byproduct of roasting "Science by press release" on fear that thought public, they say heating and cooking is located in a variety of foods and beverages, baked goods like bread and cakes with molasses and coffee.
The ABA said caramel color is not a threat to human health, "even if it traces of 4 - MEI [4 MI] contains" and that studies have confirmed this and the FDA has classified caramel as generally recognized as safe, color: how many authorities around the world are.
Also the National Toxicology say ABA program (NTP), indicated the CSPI to make his case, a is not 4 - MI as a cancer causing agent, not even "expected as more or less human carcinogenic' classified.
Said program research and testing, Dr. Ernest McConnell the press compared to the former Director of Toxicology, wrote that "4 - MEI [4 MI] not sufficient evidence for carcinogenicity are put on the list."
You have appealed to consumers use their common sense issues, whether it plausible that an industry with companies in the business for more than 100 years never "Would jeopardise the safety of their consumers".
Caramel coloring is one of the artificial dyes, the FDA ban several food the CSPI calls. The others are yellow and Red 40, thoughts that cause ADHD in children and 3 red and yellow 5 5 that and 6, which represent according to CSPI, also risks of cancer.
The FDA Food Advisory Committee is at the end of March due to answering the question.
Sources: CSPI, ABA (press release, February 16, 2011).