Fruit juice cancer warning as scientists find harmful chemical in 16 drinks

Scientists have found many fruit juices and squashes contain too much antimony, a potentially lethal substance. (Posed by model)



Fruit juices drunk by millions of children each day could contain a harmful chemical linked to cancer, scientists have warned.

Researchers have found high levels of antimony - which can be lethal in large doses - in many popular brands.

Scientists from the University of Copenhagen found that bottles of fruit juice and squash contained up to 2.5 times more of the substance as is deemed 'safe' in tap water, under EU guidelines.

In some cases the levels of antimony were ten times higher.

The scientists believe that the chemical is leaching its way into the fruit juice from the plastic bottles which hold it.



Previous research found traces of the chemical in bottled mineral water which experts believed was leaching in from the plastic container.

The team has expressed 'concern' over their findings, published by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which they say raises fears for the health of millions of children.

They have called for an investigation 'straight away'. The substance can cause cancer, heart and lung problems, according to previous studies.

Although the scientists have not specifically named any brands, the chemicals are believed to have been found in 16 of the most popular blackcurrant and strawberry squash and fruit drinks consumed by children.

Claus Hansen, a PhD student at the department of pharmacology, who took part in the research, speculated that the citric acid in the fruit juices could speed up the leaching process.

He said: 'The antimony concentrations in the products tested exceed the limit of drinking water but no legalisation exists for foodstuffs so no legislation has been broken.

WHAT IS ANTIMONY?

Antimony is used in the making of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, the type favoured by most mineral-water sellers. It is a silvery-white semi-metal that is also used in electronics and flame-proofing materials. Furthermore, it can be used as a medicine to treat people infected with parasites. The recommended EU limit for antimony in drinking water is five micrograms per litre. However, no limits exist for foodstuffs.

Levels above this could cause nausea and vomiting however the effects of long-term exposure are unknown.

'However we cannot be sure that the antimony levels are harmless.

'It would be a good idea to have some more research to get a better impression of what the antimony limit should be in fruit drinks.

'You would have to drink a lot of blackcurrant juice to go beyond the recommended maximum dose which is why there's no antimony limits for drinking water or soft drinks.

'But we can't be sure the high level we found is not harmful.'

The Royal Society of Chemistry added: 'Marketing, certainly for the cordial products, is geared towards children. It's a children's drink.

'This means they are more likely to drink it and more likely to be at risk.'

The scientists looked at 42 different red fruit juice drinks from Denmark, Scotland and Greece including blackcurrant, strawberry, raspberry and sour cherry and found concentrations 17 times higher than previously studied.

Fruit juices and juice drinks are safe, said a spokesman. 'It is not uncommon that different product types should have different regulatory requirements'



The report, published in the Journal of Environmental Monitoring, said that more research was needed to find out whether it was present during the manufacturing process.

Previous research in Germany in 2006 found antimony was leaching into bottled mineral waters from their plastic containers.

In 2005 Volvic mineral water was at the centre of a health scare after a potentially harmful chemical was found in some of its bottles.

Danone Waters, which produces Volvic, launched an investigation after a mother of two reported a strong 'burning' chemical taste to the Food Standards Agency.

It found the water, which is advertised as being filtered through volcanic rocks, contained naphthalene – a chemical which can cause liver damage in high doses.

Responding to the research, the British Soft Drinks Association today defended the industry.



'Fruit juices and juice drinks are safe,' said a spokesman. 'There is no read across between the levels of antimony permitted in drinking water and those that might be acceptable in a fruit juice or a juice drink.



'It is not uncommon that different product types should have different regulatory requirements.'

He added: 'The packaging is safe. The data in the study does not confirm any conclusions about the packaging: the authors themselves conclude that "further studies are warranted".'

'All ingredients and packaging are carefully regulated to make sure that soft drinks are safe to drink.'

