Coke and Pepsi are both in the process of changing their
soft drinks. This is all due the
possible cancer link in the caramel coloring that they put in their soda. There has been research shown on mice that
4-methylimidazole has been known to cause cancer. This has not been proved on humans, and quite
frankly if it wasn’t for the state of California we probably wouldn’t have ever
heard anything about it. California has
added 4-methylimidazole to their list of carcinogens, or cancer causing
items. As a result all Coke and Pepsi
products that are brown in color would have to have a cancer warning label on
it to be sold in the State of California.
Although the American Beverage Association (ABA) stated they
can’t find a link between the dye and cancer both Coca-Cola and Pepsi are
removing it from their products. They
both claim it isn’t because of the potential of causing cancer, but rather the
marketing headache it would wreak if they had to put a cancer warning on
something consumers drink. Remembering
back to Coca-Cola’s extremely failed new coke taste last century both companies
are promising there won’t be any change in the taste.
California is making these companies change their product
because ti could be unhealthy. Is it the
companies responsibility to be proactive and change their product before there
is a huge issue? What would the damage
be financially and psychologically to the companies if their products were
proven to help cause cancer? If it isn’t
just an ethical responsibility to change, maybe it is in their best interest
financially to try to make their product healthy for the consumers, to avoid
issues in the long run.
No comments:
Post a Comment