If you bought Fanta Pineapple or Vault Zero before September 2006, you are eligible for a replacement beverage according to the terms of a settlement in the class action lawsuit against Coca-Cola. The lawsuit concerns ingredients in the beverages that can form the cancer causing chemical benzene, which, in case you were wondering, you do not want to drink. Coke already voluntarily reformulated the drinks, but if you have some old stuff around the house and don’t want to drink the cancer juice, you can get a replacement. According to the AP:

Benzene can form in soft drinks containing vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, and either sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate. Scientists say factors such as heat or light exposure can trigger a reaction that forms benzene in the beverages.

Coca-Cola will no longer sell the two products in question with both sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid as ingredients.

As part of the terms of the settlement, Coke can continue to deny the allegations. Everyone’s happy.—MEGHANN MARCO

Coca-Cola settles lawsuits over benzene [MSNBC]
(Photo: nickgreywfu)

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