By Yun Suh-young
A consumer group claims that Coca-Cola produced here has 24 times the amount of a harmful substance than that manufactured in California, the United States.
Consumers Korea released a statement Friday citing a report made by the U.S.-based Center for Science in the Public Interest, that Coke made in Korea had 96 micrograms (ug) of the chemical 4 methylimidizole (4-MI), far exceeding amounts in the soda produced in China at 56 ug, and Japan, 72 ug.
Products bottled in California had 4 ug which means that the content of 4-MI Korean-made coke was 24 times that of the soda made in California.
The substance 4-MI is recognized as a potential cancer-causing chemical and is formed when ammoniated caramel coloring is industrially produced.
“The Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA)’s report that the level of 4-MI contained in domestically produced coke is low is misleading to consumers because it is far above the level contained in coke produced in the country of origin,” said Kim Jai-ok, president of Consumers Korea.
“It is disappointing to see the government announcing that cokes is safe when they should be planning policies to reduce consumers exposure to carcinogens.”
On Thursday, the KFDA released a report on the amount of 4-MI contained in coke produced in Korea, saying that the cokes had below-average levels of 4-MI contained in them and that they were safe to drink.
“According to our research on 16 coke products from eight production companies, the level of 4-MI in them was 0.271 ppm (mg/kg) on average which is similar or lower than those of the U.S., England, or Japan,” the KFDA said through a press release.
“The level of 4-MI in foreign-produced cokes was 0.4 ppm for the U.S., 0.4 to 0.45 ppm for Canada, Mexico, and England, and 0.2 ppm for Japan. Brazil had the highest with 0.75 ppm.”
The KFDA said because the average of 0.271 ppm in domestic coke accounted for only 0.1 percent of 250 ppm which is the standard maximum value, the cokes were safe.
“The amount of 4-MI detected in cokes sold across the U.S. was 103 ug on average per 355 ml which is safe even if an adult weighing 70 kilograms drinks 1,000 cans of coke a day,” said a KFDA official.
The consumer group, on the other hand, requested a tougher standard on regulating the carcinogenic chemical.
“We request the government to follow the USFDA’s recommendation of 3 ug or California State’s 4 ug,” said Kim.
Meanwhile, Coca Cola Korea denied that there were more carcinogenic chemicals contained in domestic coke compared to the ones in the U.S. saying that Consumers Korea only cited the example of California, the strictest state in the U.S. on the carcinogen standards.
“Even the U.S. FDA said the amount of 4-MI in the coke was safe. California is a state that regulates the carcinogens with the strictest standards. This is not the case for other U.S. states,” said an official from Coca Cola Korea.