The Latest Thing to Fear

"He told The Independent on Sunday: "These chemicals have the ability to cause severe damage to DNA in the mitochondria to the point that they totally inactivate it: they knock it out altogether.

"The mitochondria consumes the oxygen to give you energy and if you damage it - as happens in a number if diseased states - then the cell starts to malfunction very seriously. And there is a whole array of diseases that are now being tied to damage to this DNA - Parkinson's and quite a lot of neuro-degenerative diseases, but above all the whole process of ageing.""

He's talking about sodium benzoate. It's added to many, many sodas to prevent mold. A scientist at Sheffield University has been studying it, and has found some alarming results.

In addition:

Apparently when mixed with vitamin C (as it is in some beverages), it creates benzene, which is a carcinogin.

Scary. Another reason not to drink pop.