Previously we shared that consuming fruit juice had been linked to an increased risk of certain cancers. At that point, it was thought that the cause behind the increased risk was an increased level of visceral fat (which impacts how the body processes insulin, estrogen, and other hormones), higher blood sugar levels, and inflammation– all which have been associated with higher cancer risk. Earlier studies showed that added sugar intake from food and beverages increases the risk of cardiovascular mortality among U.S. adults, including one published in JAMA Network Open which provided evidence that fruit juices alone appear to elevate mortality risks. Additional studies found data that links the increased risk of cancers from consuming sugary drinks to BMI. As if all that wasn’t enough, this year has brought an onslaught of beverage recalls due to the manufacturing process of many popular choices.
Apart from the risks linked to visceral at, blood sugar levels, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease, recalls of many popular drinks this year point out the risk linked to consuming processed drinks. Below are a just some of the recalls so far in 2024.
- Charles Boggini Company’s Pink Lemonade, Cola Flavoring Base, Yellow Lemonade and Yellow Lemonade X were all recalled for containing FD&C Red No. 40 dye, a dye linked to colorectal cancer. The Yellow Lemonade and Yellow Lemonade X contained FD&C Yellow No. 5, which can cause allergic reactions in some people. The Cola Flavoring Base had sulfites linked to respiratory issues when consumed in large doses.
- About 1.9 million bottles of Fiji Water were recalled, according to WMAO-TV. The water was suspected of containing manganese and three of what the FDA called “bacterial genera.”
- Almost 25,000 cases of Martinelli’s apple juice were recalled due to elevated levels of inorganic arsenic.
- Tapee Tea was recalled for containing anti-inflammatory drugs never listed on the label nor declared on the label.
- More than 900 cases of Powerade were recalled, noted AL.com.
- Schweppes Zero Sugar Ginger Ale was recalled by Pepsi after it was learned it actually contained sugar; and 2,000 cases of Mug Root Beer were recalled because they contained Mug Zero Sugar root beer.
- More than 1 million cans of Enfamil Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Infant Formula Powder were recalled because they might contain the bacteria Cronobacter sakazakii. The bacteria can cause infants to suffer from seizures or brain swelling.
“There are a lot of drinks that have been scrutinized of late and a lot of it has to do with labeling and undeclared ingredients,” Dr. Darin Detwiler, a food safety expert at Northeastern University in Boston. Product label issues plague the food, beverage, and supplement industry, and these latest recalls further highlight the need for additional changes to labels and the regulatory process, despite some shifts made recently.
It can be overwhelming to know what is safe and what isn’t, in light of many popular beverages being recalled when they were seemingly trusted brands. What this highlights is the need to scrutinize not only what we choose to consume- and limit processed foods, juices, and sugary beverages– but to also push for regulatory agencies to continue updating their guidelines and processes to better protect consumers.
Below, you can read our previous posts about the risks of consuming some types of beverages, including fruit juices, bottled water, soda, and more.
-https://courtneymedicalgroupaz.com/2019/07/15/water-reigns-supreme-new-study-links-cancer-risks-to-fruit-juice-consumption/
-ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/ditch-juice-box-pick-water-bottle-boost-prevention
-mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/how-does-obesity-cause-cancer.h27Z1591413.html
-jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2733417
-ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30428938
-https://www.dshs.texas.gov/tcr/data/obesity-associated-cancers.aspx
-https://consumer.healthday.com/soda-2658211981/was-this-page-helpful-1
https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30464030
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-01103-x
-https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-01103-x
-cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/obesity/obesity-fact-sheet
-jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2733424
-bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-10/fruit-juice-is-just-another-soda-as-study-suggests-cancer-link
-https://www.wcrf.org/diet-activity-and-cancer/cancer-prevention-recommendations/limit-sugar-sweetened-drinks/
-https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/postprandial-hyperglycemia
-https://blogs.bcm.edu/2019/03/28/from-the-labs-with-a-steady-supply-of-sugar-colorectal-cancer-thrives/
-https://www.al.com/news/2024/04/coca-cola-has-recalled-its-popular-sports-drinks-due-to-potential-foreign-metal-objects.html
-https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/ires/index.cfm
-https://www.westernjournal.com/trader-joes-recalls-61000-pounds-food-item-contamination-risk-discovered/