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
Asahi Soft Drinks manufacturing plants were opened: one in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture in January 1989, and one in Akashi, Hyōgo Prefecture in January 1990. In February 1990, the canned coffee brand "NOVA" was changed to "J.O.", and Hank Aaron began doing commercials. In September that same year, Asahi Beer Soft Drinks consolidated its western Japan, Tōkai, and Kyūshū subsidiaries into one company called Asahi Beer Soft Drinks. In January 1991, Asahi Beer Soft Drinks took over the drinking water business from the parent company. The company began sales of its blended tea Asahi Jūrokucha, a blend of 16 different teas, in March 1993.