Preservative E211
This is the code name for the preservative Sodium Benzoate. In 2005, the US FDA ran some tests in a private lab, they found that these soft drinks contain Benzene. Benzene is a gas emitted from the exhaust pipes of vehicles. If you burn coal or petrol, this gas is emitted. It too causes cancer. But how is this gas found in cold drinks?
After research, it was found that the Benzoate salts, such as the preservative Sodium Benzoate, when they react with Ascorbic Acids, Ascorbic Acid is Vitamin C, they come together to form benzene. This reaction needs heat and light only. When these bottles are exposed to heat and light, this reaction takes place.
When this controversy erupted in 2007, court cases were filed against PepsiCo and Coca-Cola. Next year, in 2008, it was revealed that Coca-Cola would remove Sodium Benzoate from their products. They would stop using it in their soft drinks. You’d think this was a positive step.
But as we told you, the countries where the court cases are being fought, the companies take action there. In India, it is still a popular preservative used in soft drinks. Anyway, excessive sodium, consuming excessive salt, can cause Hypertension, This is why junk food is often linked to Hypertension.
