China's quality watchdog on March 9 declared soft drinks on the Chinese market safe by virtue of their benzene contents measuring below 10 parts per billion, which is the international safe limit.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine made the announcement after it completed a national quality check of more than 170 kinds of imported and domestically-made soft drinks.

Benzene contents in all the samples measured less than 10 parts per billion, which is the benchmark set by China's Ministry of Health in line with World Health Organization requirements.

Officials with the administration said they will keep a close watch on other countries to see if they adjust their benzene content regulations in soft drinks. Meanwhile, it will also further strengthen quality inspections of domestic and imported soft drinks in the Chinese market.

Recent media reports said that small amounts of benzene were found in drinks fortified with Vitamin C and sodium benzoate. The benzene is reportedly the result of the chemical reaction between the two. Products of two of the world's largest brands of soft drinks, Coca-Cola and Pepsi, were also alleged to contain trace amounts of benzene.

Scientific studies have shown that high doses of benzene can cause cancer.

Industry insiders say that most soft drinks contain some sodium benzoate.

(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2006)