Benzene in soft drinks been filed by a group of parents in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The two companies, Zone Brands Inc., maker of "BellyWashers" products, and TalkingRain Beverage Co., denied that their products were harmful, but agreed to change the ingredients in their drinks. Coca-Cola announced that it would be phasing out sodium benzoate from many of its drinks, but not Fanta and Sprite. As of August 2012, Coca Cola Zero and Barq's root beer still contains benzoate (added as potassium salt and sodium salt respectively). A Belgian study found that plastic packaging may play an important role in
Benzene in soft drinks abstraction by the hydroxyl radical, which itself is produced by the Cu-catalysed reduction of dioxygen by ascorbic acid: Other factors that affect the formation of benzene are heat and light. Storing soft drinks in warm conditions speeds up the formation of benzene. Calcium disodium EDTA and sugars have been shown to inhibit benzene production in soft drinks. The International Council of Beverages Associations (ICBA) has produced advice to prevent or minimize benzene formation. Various authorities have set limits on benzene content in drinking water. The following limits are given in parts per billion (ppb; μg/kg). The EPA and California have