Irish soft drinks pass safety tests

Irish soft drinks manufacturers have responded to a new health scare by having their products tested by Irish and EU food safety authorities.

The Beverage Council of Ireland (BCI) said that all
ingredients used have undergone rigorous testing by the relevant food safety
authorities and have met with the authorities' approval.

The scare, stemming from recent research by a
British scientist, began when it was suggested that a preservative found in
many soft drinks could switch off vital parts of DNA and lead to cirrhosis of
the liver and diseases such as Parkinson's.

The warning was issued after observing the impact of sodium
benzoate, also known as E211, on living yeast cells in the laboratory. The
preservative, which is used to prevent mould in drinks such as Sprite and Fanta, was found to
have damaged part of the yeast's DNA.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland said that the substance
had been tested and was considered safe.