Also on Friday, a lawsuit over benzene was settled involving two smaller companies, Atlanta-based Zone Brands Inc. and Preston, Wash.-based Talking Rain Beverage Co., according to news reports. The companies reportedly denied that their products caused harm, but they had already agreed to change their ingredients.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced in May 2006 that it found benzene in some samples of five beverages at levels far higher than the 5 parts per billion (ppb) that federal regulations allow in bottled or tap water. (There is currently no standard for benzene in soft drinks.)

Benzene can form in beverages containing benzoate salts (anti­microbials) and either vitamin C (ascorbic acid) or erythorbic acid, a related substance, if certain minerals are present. Heat or light during shipping or storage can increase the amount of benzene formed.

FDA maintains that the levels of benzene do not pose a serious health risk, but as Consumer Reports points out, "any exposure to a known carcinogen poses some risk."

Posted by Genevieve Smith, 12:17:29 PM