Last week, there were rumors about Coca-Cola and Pepsi changing its key beverages formulas to correspond with the new Californian law and remove carcinogens out of their sodas.

Photo: Coca-Cola cans, by Joshua Rott/Reuters

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has recently unveiled results of lab tests finding that some samples of Coke, Diet Coke, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Dr Pepper and Diet Dr Pepper contained high levels of 4-MI, while California’s law allows only 29-micrograms-per-12-ounce-serving. But the CSPI’s spokesperson noted that a consumer would have to drink more than 1,000 cans a day to reach the dangerous doses that cause cancer.

Reacting to the media coverage, Coca-Cola said in an official statement that it was a misconception.

“The caramel color in all of our products has been, is and always will be safe, and The Coca-Cola Company is not changing the world-famous formula for our Coca-Cola beverages. Over the years, we have updated our manufacturing processes from time to time, but never altered our Secret Formula,” reported the company.

However, Coca-Cola asked their caramel manufacturers to modify their production process to reduce the amount of 4-MEI in the caramel. The company says that there will be no effect on the formula and both the taste and the color remains the same.

Currently, Coca-Cola is running the ‘Move to the Beat’ global ad campaign, while Pepsi is promoting its new low-cal Pepsi Next.