Benzoates and sorbates in soft drinks survey
Wednesday 30 November 2005
An Agency survey of the preservatives benzoates and sorbates in soft drinks found that the vast majority of products were within the legal limits.
Benzoates and sorbates are both widely used as preservatives to prevent yeasts and moulds from growing.
99% of the soft drinks tested did not contain either benzoic or sorbic acid above the permitted limits. Four out of three hundred drinks sampled had more benzoic acid than the maximum level allowed, but not at levels that cause concern for health. Four other drinks contained levels of sorbic acid likely to have a preservative effect, but which were not declared on the label.
None of the batches of drinks with excess benzoic acid, or that were incorrectly labelled, remain on the market.
Survey details
The survey looked at 300 samples of soft drinks (squash, carbonated and ready-to-drink still drinks) for benzoates (E210-213) and sorbates (E200, E202-203).
Samples were taken from eight different areas of the UK from both supermarkets and independent shops.
Four of the drinks, Boylan Bottleworks 'Black Cherry' (imported from America), Sainsbury's 'Blue Bolt', Mi Wadi 'Orange & Pineapple – No Added Sugar squash' and Sunkist 'Diet Sunshine Orange', had benzoic acid levels above the legal limits. However, the levels were not considered to be a concern for people's health.
The four soft drinks that contained sorbic acid not listed on the ingredients label were Original 'Mango Fruit Drink – Natural' (made in Saudi Arabia), Radnor Hills 'Still Aqua Splash Orange & Mandarin', Valley 'Lime & Lemon Crush' and Squeeze Pops 'Orange Flavour Still Soft Drink'.
Agency action
The Food Standards Agency and relevant local authorities have received assurances from three of the four manufacturers that they have taken measures to ensure benzoates are below the permitted legal limit. The other product, Boylan Bottleworks 'Black Cherry' drink, is not intended for sale in the European Union and only a limited amount of the product had been imported. The product is no longer on sale.
For those drinks found to contain undeclared sorbic acid, three manufacturers have taken action to resolve this issue. However, the manufacturer of the Saudi Arabian product has not responded to enquiries. Trading Standards Officers have visited the shop where the product was purchased and have confirmed that this drink is no longer on sale.
Rhodri Evans, Head of the Food Standards Agency additives branch, said: 'The results of this survey show that the vast majority of soft drink manufacturers are acting responsibly to make sure that levels of preservatives in their products are not above permitted limits, and that all ingredients are correctly labelled.
The maximum level for benzoic acid in soft drinks when sold is set at 150 milligrams per litre. The maximum level for sorbic acid in soft drinks is set at 300 milligrams per litre when used by itself, or 250 milligrams per litre when used in combination with benzoates.
Maximum levels are based on technological need and should ensure that the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) is not likely to be exceeded by any individual consuming a variety of foodstuffs permitted to contain the additive. An ADI is the amount of an additive that can be consumed on a daily basis over a lifetime without damaging people's health. Since the ADI is intended to cover a long-term exposure to a particular additive, occasional intake slightly above the ADI would not be of concern.