How Much Cancer-Causing 4-MeI May Be in Your Soda?

Caramel color, which is widely used in brown soft drinks, may cause cancer due to 4-methylimidazole (4-MeI), a chemical byproduct formed when certain types of caramel coloring are manufactured. 4-MeI has been found to cause cancer in animals and the International Agency for Research on Cancer declared it to be “possibly carcinogenic to humans”. A Consumer Reports study found levels of 4-MeI in soft drinks at levels that exceed those requiring a cancer warning label. Caramel color may be listed on labels as “artificial flavor” or “caramel color”.