Q&As

Beverages & Benzene

What is benzene?

Benzene is one of many volatile organic compounds found virtually everywhere in our environment. It is found in the air we breathe and in most of the foods that we eat, such as bananas, ground beef, dairy products and eggs. According to both U.S. and international public health and regulatory agencies, 95% of our exposure to benzene comes from breathing it, not through consuming foods and beverage products. An FDA study of volatile organic compounds found in foods and beverages was published in 2003 in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. Two major conclusions were reached in the study: (1) The levels of benzene found in foods and beverages are not a threat to public health, and (2) Benzene is ubiquitous in virtually all foods.

We have found that benzene may occur at part per billion levels in some beverages containing sodium or potassium benzoate (preservatives) along with ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) when these beverages are exposed to increased amounts of heat or ultraviolet light. The low levels and frequency at which benzene formation occurs are not considered to pose a health risk, according to the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Are beverages safe to drink?

Absolutely. The FDA has reviewed the presence of benzene in foods, including soft drinks, on multiple occasions and it has found no public health concern regarding the amounts of benzene in soft drinks. There is nothing more sacred and valuable to our companies than their customers. We take seriously any concerns about the safety and quality of our products, which is why our companies already have in place rigorous food safety procedures. Our companies are placing even greater focus on benzene and the American Beverage Association (ABA) will aggressively circulate guidance throughout the industry to effectively minimize the formation of benzene.

Why is benzene found in some soft drinks?

Benzene can form under certain limited conditions in particular soft drinks containing potassium or sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid. Yet, when the presence of benzene has been found, it has been at low levels that do not pose a human health concern, according to FDA reviews. The beverage industry is taking – and has taken – aggressive actions to address the formation of benzene, even if it occurs sparingly and at safe levels.

Steps can be taken in the formulation process to control and minimize the presence of benzene. The American Beverage Association is making sure best practices are communicated throughout our fast-growing industry. Read more about this in the ABA Guidance Document to Mitigate the Potential for Benzene Formation in Beverages.

What are sodium benzoate, potassium benzoate and ascorbic acid? Why are they used?

Sodium benzoate and potassium benzoate are preservatives that are used to prevent the growth of microorganisms in a broad spectrum of foods and beverages, including soft drinks. Preservatives are used to protect flavor and to enhance the safety of many food and beverage products. Ascorbic acid is another name for Vitamin C. It is an essential part of a balanced diet and occurs naturally in many fruits.

If there is ascorbic acid and sodium or potassium benzoate in a soft drink does that mean benzene is present?

No. Benzene does not form in every case where both of these ingredients are present. We are aware that extremely low levels of benzene (in parts per billion) may be found under certain conditions in such formulations and when they have been exposed to heat or ultraviolet light. But there are steps that can be taken in formulating beverages to prevent or minimize the formation of benzene, and the effectiveness of these measures can be assessed through appropriate testing.

The American Beverage Association is distributing throughout the beverage industry guidance about these formulations and testing steps to assure that manufacturers will use production procedures that minimize the possibility of benzene formation.

The FDA also makes the point that the mere presence of benzoates and ascorbic acid does not mean the presence of benzene. Robert E. Brackett, director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, wrote in a March 21 2006 letter: “You should know, however, that the presence of benzoates and vitamin C in a product cannot be used to conclude that elevated levels of benzene have or will form. In fact, in our current analyses, the vast majority of beverages containing both benzoate preservative and ascorbic acid contained either no detectable benzene or levels below 5 ppb.”

How are these products safe when they exceed the 5 ppb level for water?

The EPA uses a set of assumptions in establishing regulatory limits for the presence of benzene. Those assumptions include drinking two liters of water, from the same source, every day for 70 years. FDA has not established similar assumptions for soft drinks. Also, the 5 parts per billion limit often cited for drinking water is based not on single samples, but rather on an annual aggregate average.

Foods such as bananas, ground beef, cheese, butter, eggs, avocados, and popsicles have been found to have benzene levels greater than the water standard of 5 ppb. But the FDA has not determined a health risk from benzene in these foods either. In fact, it has been estimated that 95% of our exposure to benzene is from breathing it, not ingestion.

Still, the American Beverage Association is taking proactive measures to further control and minimize benzene formation even if it occurs sparingly and at safe levels.

Why aren’t there standards for benzene in soft drinks?

There are no regulatory limits anywhere in the world for benzene in finished soft drinks. Because soft drinks and other commercial beverages contain many ingredients, the drinking water standards are not appropriate.

Do beverage companies test for benzene in their products?

Beverage companies have, over the years, proactively tested products to ensure they do not contain elevated levels of benzene. Beverage companies already have rigorous food safety guidelines for the production of all of their products. The industry’s foremost commitment is to its valued customers and it now has an even greater focus on ensuring the minimization of benzene in its products.

What is the beverage industry doing to address this issue?

The industry is taking proactive action to minimize the formation of benzene in beverages – even at safe levels. The American Beverage Association has been working with the beverage industry to make sure products are being reviewed, tested, and reformulated when necessary. As part of this effort, the ABA is developing formal guidance for companies on how to minimize benzene formation. It is sharing this information with companies worldwide to make sure companies have and use the best known practices for controlling benzene formation.

What is the FDA doing on behalf of this issue?

The FDA has studied foods and soft drinks for the presence of benzene several times in the past five years – and after each review it has found no risk to human health. This includes a review of soft drinks over the past several months, as well as a review of soft drinks along with 70 other food products in a study published in 2003. Even when the FDA has found the presence of benzene in limited soft drink products, FDA does not believe the levels have posed any public health threat.

The FDA is working in cooperation with the industry, their trade associations and other stakeholder groups to further understand the situation and to determine, what, if any, additional actions are necessary to further control benzene formation. This collaborative process will ensure a thorough assessment of the science is undertaken and the necessary measures are identified to maintain the quality and safety of our industry’s products.

Where can I find the ABA's Guidance Document?

The ABA Guidance Document to Mitigate the Potential for Benzene Formation in Beverages can by found by clicking this link.