Irish soft drinks manufacturers say their products are completely safe to drink, with all additives having been tested by Irish and EU food safety authorities.
The Beverage Council of Ireland (BCI) was responding to a new health scare surrounding a common preservative found in many soft drinks, which has been linked to serious cell damage.
Sodium benzoate, also known as E211, can switch off vital parts of DNA, which can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, according to a British scientist.
Prof Peter Piper of Sheffield University, an expert in ageing, issued the warning after observing the impact of sodium benzoate on living yeast cells in the laboratory. The substance, which is used to prevent mould in drinks such as Sprite and Fanta, was found to have damaged part of the yeast's DNA.
However, Bernard Murphy, director of the BCI, said Irish consumers should have complete confidence in the safety of soft drinks and their ingredients: "All ingredients used have undergone rigorous testing by the relevant EU and Irish food safety authorities and have met with the authorities' approval."
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland said sodium benzoate had been tested and was considered safe. When Prof Piper's study was published, it would be studied for its possible impact on public health, a spokesman said. "We wouldn't dismiss what he says out of hand, but it's one thing to do an experiment on yeast cells in the lab and another to say what the effect might be on humans."
Sodium benzoate was previously linked to concern about cancer - when mixed with vitamin C in soft drinks, benzene, a carcinogenic, is formed. A number of products containing benzene were taken off the Irish market last year.
