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Update on withdrawal of soft drinks due to the presence of benzene

Monday 10 April 2006

Food Alert: for Information

Ref: 19/2006 update 1 (20/2006 update 1 - Scotland)

The Silver Spring Mineral Water Co. Ltd and Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc withdrew products on 31 March 2006 due to the presence of benzene at levels above 10 parts per billion (ppb).

People who have inhaled very high levels of benzene in the workplace have been found to increase their risk of cancer. Benzene has been detected at far lower levels in some soft drinks. Its presence in soft drinks is thought to be the result of an interaction between the preservative sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid (vitamin C).

The affected products are:

No other Silver Spring Mineral Water Co. Ltd or Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc products are known to be affected.

Related links

Survey of benzene levels in soft drinks Read about the Agency's survey

See also

Benzene in soft drinks Update on benzene in soft drinks

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