Diet Coke: Deadly Cocktail?

[dgridley]

Aggressive marketing like the FIFA sponsorship and clever jingles like ‘Always Coca-Cola’ keep Coke in our consciousness, but before you ‘grab a Coke and a smile’ at this year’s main event, consider just what you are putting into your body. Although Diet Coke has a strong association with sport and health, it is actually a worrying mixture of neurotoxic and potentially carcinogenic high intensity sweeteners (aspartame and acesulfame K), tooth and bone destroying acids (phosphoric acid) and DNA damaging colourings (sulphite ammonia caramel), as well as psychoaddictive caffeine and other undisclosed ‘fl avourings’.

It also contains sodium benzoate, which can be broken down into the listed carcinogen benzene in the presence of strong acids, such as the citric acid found in this product.

Soda manufacturers have been aware of this synergistic possibility since the 1990s, but without pressure from regulatory authorities to change their formula to prevent the formation of benzene, have continued to mix benzoates and acids.

more: http://www.truthera.com/2007/06/03/...toxic-and-potentially-carcinogenic-chemicals/

Personally I can't stand Diet Coke (or any other diet sodas) but this certainly could be a cause for concern if you do drink them.

 

[.X.]

Same here, I can't stand diet sodas, I hope the FDA or who ever needs to be looking into these chemicals, does so.

 

[italiandragon]

thanks for the info, very useful!

 

[Michelle]

Im not really a fizzy drink kinda girl to be honest. Makes for some interesting reading, thanks Dave.

 

[Nashfan]

Thanks for the info, but it's only an interesting read. There is no cause for alarm.

it is actually a worrying mixture of neurotoxic and potentially carcinogenic high intensity sweeteners (aspartame and acesulfame K), tooth and bone destroying acids (phosphoric acid) and DNA damaging colourings (sulphite ammonia caramel), as well as psychoaddictive caffeine

The key word about the carcinogenic thing is "potentially". I don't have a link, but I read the study where they actually tested aspartame, and it did indeed cause cancer in lab rats. Here's the catch: the rats ate their bodyweight in the aspartame. If you eat your bodyweight in anything, that could cause problems.

It also contains sodium benzoate, which can be broken down into the listed carcinogen benzene in the presence of strong acids, such as the citric acid found in this product.

It doesn't matter what the chemical breaks down into. A compound takes on entirely new properties when the elements are combined as in sodium benzoate. And breaking down the benzoate with the citric acids in the drink is like putting out a house fire with a dixie cup of water. Yes, the acid could break it down, but only in MUCH higher concentrations than you find in the drink.

Consider this: table salt can break down into chlorine, a poisonous gas, in the presence of heat. Table salt is also relatively safe.

 

[dgridley]

Regardless.. diet sodas taste nasty imo..