Soda Coloring May Cause Cancer

Soda has been blacklisted lately for its role in causing obesity, but now the soda industry is taking cover again, being blasted for claims its caramel coloring ingredient can cause cancer.

Watchdog group, the Center for Science and Public Inquiry, called on the Food and Drug Administration to ban the compounds used to make cola's artificial brown color after noticing the ingredients were causing malignant tumors in lab mice and rats.

The process to create the trademark color involves mixing sugars, ammonia and sulfites under high temperatures and pressure, sparking a reaction that produces 2-methylimidazole and 4 methylimidazole.

"Carcinogenic colorings have no place in the food supply, especially considering that their only function is a cosmetic one," said CSPI executive director Michael F. Jacobson in the release. "The FDA should act quickly to revoke its approval of caramel colorings made with ammonia."

Government-backed studies on rodents found that high doses of 2-MEI and 4-MEI were linked to leukemia and cancer of the liver, thyroid and lungs in the lab animals.

"If you were waiting for one more reason to give up your cola habit, you now certainly have one," Jacobson wrote in an editorial in The Huffington Post.

Soda drink makers including Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo are wholeheartedly standing by their product saying their beverages are "completely safe."

"CSPI's statement irresponsibly insinuates that the caramel used in our beverages is unsafe and maliciously raises cancer concerns among consumers. ... In fact, studies show that the caramel we use does not cause cancer," Coca-Cola Co. said.

The FDA plans to review the matter March 30–31.

Visit AOL Health to read more about the soda color controversy.