The world's top two soft drinks giants, Coca-Cola and Pepsi, have both declared that their products are safe to drink and in complete compliance with China's safety standards, reports Tuesday's Beijing Youth Daily.

 

The two firms made the statements in response to latest Chinese media reports that two brands of soft drinks, Coca-Cola's Fanta and Pepsi's Mirinda, are suspected of containing excessive levels of benzene.

 

Scientific studies show that high doses of benzene can cause cancer.

 

Coca-Cola said latest tests from Britain and the United States have both affirmed its soft drinks are safe to drink.

 

According to norms set by China's Ministry of Health, the benzene content in drinking water should be less than 10 parts per billion (PPB), and Coca-Cola said its Fanta fully meets that standard.

 

According to the European Soft Drinks Association, Coca-Cola added, there are small amounts of benzene found in some soft drinks which contain Vitamine-C (ascorbic acid) and sodium benzoate, but the amount poses no risk to people's health.

 

Many foods contain a small amount of benzene, such as bananas and boiled eggs, Coca-Cola acknowledged in the statement.

 

Pepsi also insisted that the benzene level in their products also meets safety standards. It said that it will pay close attention to the case and ensure its products continue to be in line with relevant regulations.

 

Industry insiders said that barring water, most soft drinks contain certain levels of sodium benzoate.

 

The core issue is whether the benzene content exceeds the recommended standard, said Zhao Yali, head of the China Beverage Industry Association.

 

Zhao noted that the association is conducting an urgent meeting over the issue and will reveal the result by the end of the week.

 

China's quality watchdog, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, also said that it was keeping a close eye on relevant reports, but gave no further comment.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2006)