Did you know, have you heard, that the combination in some soda and juice drinks containing benzoate salts and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) can cause the formulation of benzene.

For those who don't know what benzene is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzene

For those who don†t care to read the entire article here’s an excerpt for you:

Benzene exposure has serious health effects. Breathing high levels of benzene can result in death, while low levels can cause drowsiness, dizziness, rapid heart rate, headaches, tremors, confusion, and unconsciousness. Eating or drinking foods containing benzene can cause vomiting, irritation of the stomach, dizziness, sleepiness, convulsions, rapid heart rate, and death.

The major effect of benzene from chronic (long-term) exposure is to the blood. Benzene damages the bone marrow and can cause a decrease in red blood cells, leading to anemia. It can also cause excessive bleeding and depress the immune system, increasing the chance of infection.
Some women who breathed high levels of benzene for many months had irregular menstrual periods and a decrease in the size of their ovaries. It is not known whether benzene exposure affects the developing fetus in pregnant women or fertility in men.

Animal studies have shown low birth weights, delayed bone formation, and bone marrow damage when pregnant animals breathed benzene.

The US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) classifies benzene as a human carcinogen. Long-term exposure to high levels of benzene in the air can cause leukemia, a potentially fatal cancer of the blood-forming organs. In particular, Acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (AML & ALL) may be caused by benzene.

This may be old news to some, but I think it bears repeating, think about what you eat and drink, and most especially your children. The things you feed them today may go on to effect their children and their children’s children. They are our wards.

Please read:
http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/PublicHealth/tb1/3014