Some Soft Drinks May Damage Your DNA

Parallax Blue writes "The Independent is reporting new findings that indicate a common additive called sodium benzoate, found in soft drinks such as Fanta and Pepsi Max among others, has the ability to switch off vital parts of DNA in a cell's mitochondria. From the article: 'The mitochondria consumes the oxygen to give you energy and if you damage it — as happens in a number of diseased states — then the cell starts to malfunction very seriously. And there is a whole array of diseases that are now being tied to damage to this DNA — Parkinson's and quite a lot of neuro-degenerative diseases, but above all the whole process of aging.' European Union MPs are now calling for an urgent investigation in the wake of these alarming new findings."

Comments

Time for a ban for pop in schools

[Antony-Kyre]

For these united States of America at least, maybe it is time to ban soda pop being sold in schools. (This can be by vending machine or served in the lunch line. Students would be free to bring it from home.)

By banning it, I mean for each INDIVIDUAL STATE to take it upon themselves to make it illegal for K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS to sell or serve soft drinks. Let the schools get the money they need another way. Health is more important.

If it turns out that this is a false alarm, the ban can be lifted. Why not simply ban things containing sodium benzoate? Well, there may always be scares involving the chemicals in soft drinks, and more importantly, there may be contract issues if some pops of a given brand are not sold.

Re:And what about the U.S.?

[jez9999]

my addiction of choice now is tea with a bit of organic sugar for sweetener.

Sigh. Why ruin a perfectly good drink with sickly sweetness? Tea is best enjoyed with a small amount of milk, nothing more. :-)