TÜBA Principle Member Prof. Dr. Fatih Gültekin’s "Warning about the Risk of Cancer From the Sodium Benzoate Used in Mineral Water and Fruit Flavored Soda!"
TÜBA Principle Member, TÜBA Food and Nutrition Study Group Member and Isparta Süleyman Demirel University (SDU) Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry President Prof. Dr. Fatih Gültekin pointed out that as the result of a study conducted on some beverages that are on the market, they determined that vitamin C or fruit juice is used as an antioxidant and sodium benzoate is used as a preservative in fruit flavored soda and mineral water.
It Can Cause Cancer
Prof. Dr. Gültekin, who explained that the use of vitamin C and benzoate in the same mixture carries the risk of cancer, said "A large number of preservatives are being used in beverages. Vitamin C can be added to keep the ingredients from spoiling. Vitamin C and the preservative sodium benzoate being used in the same mixture turns into a substance called ‘benzene’ when exposed to heat or daylight. The substance can cause cancer”. Prof. Dr. Gültekin added that in some cases natural fruit juices are used in place of vitamin C as antioxidant but there is vitamin C in natural juices as well and when this is combined with the preservative sodium benzoate it can still turn into a carcinogenic substance.
Other Antioxidants Can Be Used
Pointing out that this situation is not known by manufacturers, Prof. Dr. Gültekin said that both producers and consumers need to be careful. Prof. Dr. Gültekin explained that producers should not use vitamin C and sodium benzoate together and added, "They can use a different preservative instead of sodium benzoate or a different antioxidant instead of vitamin C. Also if the shops and markets that sell such products store them in the proper conditions that will eliminate this risk. Beverages should not be stored where they are exposed to daylight".
Both the Producer and the Consumer Should Know
Cautioning consumers to read the ingredients in beverages Prof. Dr. Gültekin added the following:
"Consumers should not choose products that have benzoic acid or sodium benzoate and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) together. The combinations used in food are produced in accordance with the Turkish Food Codex. Sodium benzoate is used as a preservative in the food codex. Vitamin C is used for its antioxidant quality. But when these two are combined and the storage conditions are not suitable a result can occur. Both producers and consumers should be aware of this."
