These days the world becomes familiar with a substance called 4
methylimidazole the substance that made Coca-Cola and Pepsi to announce
that they will change the manufacturing formula .Which substance in
Coca-Cola and Pepsi causes cancer? But scientists are familiar with this
substance just a while ago:
In 1956 is proven that the animals exposed to a high dose of 4
methylimidazole get convulsive seizures, restlessness, mouth foaming and
paralysis.
In 1969, 1986 and 1987 other scientific studies have shown the same
convulsive activity of 4 methylimidazole with generalized convulsions of
the body.
In 1993, the same effects appeared on goats and mice. Thus
neurological side effects of 4 methylimidazole were confirmed on a large
number of animal species.
In 2006 it was investigated the possible mutagenic effect of the
substance on the bacterial species and the experiments gave negative
results.
In 2008, the National Toxicology Program of the US published the
results according to which it is clearly shown that the 4
methylimidazole causes cancer in mice and rats.
Do not expect similar studies that show the carcinogenic effect of 4
methyl imidazole in people from one simple reason: no one would allow
such an experiment with a potentially carcinogenic substance because
such a study would be unethical.
Why is this substance used at all? 4 methylimidazole actually gives
the “caramel color” of Coca-Cola, Pepsi and other products. There is no
nutritional or preservative value and it is added solely for cosmetic
reasons. In early ’90 -is, Pepsi and Coca-Cola created colorless “diet”
versions of their products, clear and transparent like water, but with
the same taste as their usual drinks. Such products were probably not
selling well (“water” with the taste of Coca-Cola or Pepsi), and soon
were abandoned. So, these beverages can be produced without this color,
and with exactly the same flavor.
When it comes to toxic substances you will probably think that a
tolerable daily dose would not have any effects. However, this rule does
not apply to carcinogenic substances – for them there is no allowable
threshold or theoretically are set extremely low doses as the maximum
permitted daily dose in order to protect the population. The permissible
daily dose for 4 methylimidazole, according to the state of California,
only in one Coca-Cola or Pepsi tin can is exceeded 5 times!
However, the state of California does not prohibit the use of 4 methyl
imidazole, but obliges the manufacturers to put a clear label on the
packaging that says “The product can cause cancer.” Coca-Cola and Pepsi
to avoid the obligation, plan to change the formula, but only in
California! The companies plan to make the same change after few years
in other countries in the US, but not in Europe.
There are many ways in which the industry is trying to diminish the
whole situation. First, they claim that it is not true that 4 methyl
imidazole is carcinogenic. However, if it were not so, imagine how many
lawsuits would have been filed in the US against those who “talk bad
“about their products for allegedly causing cancer! If it isn’t true,
why not just sue them?
Secondly, they’re trying to make confusion about the substance, so
instead of using the full name 4 methylimidazole, they call it “4 MEI”,
“caramel” or “caramel coloring”. Yes 4 methyl imidazole is a color and
it is used to obtain the caramel look, but it has nothing to do with
natural caramel. 4 methy imidazole isn’t a natural substance and you
can’t find it in nature. 4 methyl imidazole isn’t a caramel. 4 methyl
imidazole is a color.
Third, they say that this substance is not only used by them and that
it is contained in other food products. The manipulation here is clear:
“Here, 4 methyl imidazole is everywhere, everybody uses it, and so
nothing is dangerous.” It is true that it is contained in other foods,
artificially added. Therefore not only Coca-Cola and Pepsi should write
“Contains a substance which causes cancer”. This label must appear on
all such products, or even better, the use the 4 methyl imidazole should
be banned entirely in food and we should not be heartened by the fact
that many products have it. Other harmful substances are also present
everywhere and many people use them, but that does not make them less
dangerous. Such substances are rightly prohibited.
As a doctor, I cannot describe my initial shock when I found out what
kind of substances are used in the food manufacturing processes,
substances for which it is more than clear that cause diseases that are
deadly. In the before mentioned drinks, 4 methyl imidazole is just one
part of the story. Perhaps more dangerous it is the fact that in one
glass of Coca-Cola there are 10 teaspoons of sugar, or the fact that
these drinks contain phosphates that cause osteoporosis and bone
weakening. The list of potentially dangerous substances in those drinks
is actually very long: aspartame, sodium benzoate, BPA … There is not
one healthy (or healthy minded) reason which would justify the
consumption of such drinks.
Each of us is responsible for personal health. Maybe someone expects
that owners of huge companies or legislators will care more about your
health and that of your children more than you do. I do not. I do not
expect that someone will recognize that his drinks cause cancer. The
world is as it is, and it remains only to protect ourselves until better
times come and ethics is established in business. Our generation is
unlikely to wait that day.
The author is a medical doctor and has two Masters of environmental influences on health, acquired at Cambridge and Harvard.
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