Preservatives are everywhere; be cautious with your drinks
Coca-Cola Zero was recently reported to have excessive preservatives, causing public concern. What are the facts? Opinions are divided, and the truth is hard to determine. However, there is no doubt that beverage preservatives are once again in the spotlight.
Facing today's beverage market where preservatives are ubiquitous, and with drinks being in high season, how should consumers choose?
Carbonated drinks generally contain preservatives
Preservatives, as the name implies, are additives that prevent food from spoiling. According to relevant sources, carbonated drinks in China generally contain preservatives, and some fruit juices and herbal teas also use them, with the most common being sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate.
During a recent investigation at a large supermarket, a reporter found that various beverages filled several shelves, with a rich variety, with carbonated, fruit, tea drinks, and mineral water being the most common. On the ingredient list of a bottle of Coca-Cola Zero, an additive called "sodium benzoate" was prominently listed. It's not just Coca-Cola Zero; many other carbonated drinks like Sprite and Fanta also contain this substance. Moreover, most of these drinks list sodium benzoate as a general "food additive" rather than specifically "preservative," so ordinary consumers generally don't realize it's a preservative.
In addition, the reporter also found that most of these drinks use food additives, and it is very common for a single bottle to contain several or even more than ten food additives. This includes many types of drinks that consumers are now fond of, such as fruit juices and tea beverages.
When asked if he knew that carbonated drinks contain preservatives, Mr. Ke, who was selecting drinks, said, "I'm not too clear. I usually don't pay special attention to the ingredient lists when buying drinks. Anyway, everyone drinks them, so it shouldn't be a big problem. Besides, my child loves to drink them, so I can only try to limit his intake; it's impossible to stop him completely."