According to a study released by Consumer Reports magazine, many sodas may be dangerous to your health, and it’s not only the sugar. Researchers reviewed the levels of the chemical 4-methylimidazole (4-Mel), also known as “caramel coloring”, in soda. 

While there are not federal restrictions on the chemical, California requires warning labels on foods and beverages that expose consumers to more than 29 micrograms of 4-Mel per day, according to the Los Angeles Times. This hopes to limit the risk of cancer from 4-Mel to one case in every 100,000 lifetimes of daily exposure. The warning label reads: "WARNING: This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer."

The Consumer Reports tested 81 cans and bottles of popular sodas from April to September in California and New York. Here are a few notable soft drinks and their 4-Mel levels in micrograms at California:

• Malta Goya – 352.5 mcg
  
• Pepsi One – 43.5 mcg
  
• Pepsi – 24.8 mcg
  
• A&W Root Beer – 24.2 mcg
  
• Dr. Pepper – 10.1 mcg
  
• Coca-Cola – 4.3 mcg
  
• Coke Zero – 3.8 mcg 

When Consumer Reports purchased Malta Goya and Pepsi One -- the soft drinks that exceeded the recommended amount of 4-Mel—the drinks did not contain a warning label. Dr. Urvashi Rangan, Consumer Reports toxicologist, wrote in a statement, "We are concerned about both the levels of 4-MeI we found in many of the soft drinks tested and the variations observed among brands, especially given the widespread consumption of these types of beverages."

Currently the Food and Drug Administration has no reason to believe that 4-Mel poses a health risk to consumers at the levels of caramel coloring found in foods and beverages, agency spokeswoman Juli Putnam told CNN in an e-mail. The government agency is testing a variety of food and beverages with the chemical and reviewing the data to determine any precautionary actions need to be taken, she added.

The American Beverage Association released a statement, “First and foremost, consumers can rest assured that our industry's beverages are safe. Contrary to the conclusions of Consumer Reports, FDA has noted, there is no reason at all for any health concerns, a position supported by regulatory agencies around the world.”

Additional Resource:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/01/caramel-color-the-health-risk-that-may-be-in-your-soda/index.htm