A major consumer group today called for a government ban on two types of caramel coloring used in colas, warning that the ingredients could cause cancer. The soft drink industry came out swinging, strongly objecting to the claim.

一消费组织要求政府禁止可乐中添加两种焦糖色素，警告说这类成分可能致癌。可口可乐公司立马反击，强烈反对对这论断。

"We're asking the FDA to ban the use of caramel coloring that's used in colas and certain other soft drinks and a variety of other foods," said Michael Jacobson, Executive Director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest. "The reason is that several years ago a government agency, the National Toxicology program tested a contaminant in the coloring and found that it caused cancer in mice and possibly rats."

公共利益科学中心的执行理事Michael Jacobson说道：“我们要求FDA禁止可乐，当然也包括其他软饮料和食品添加焦糖色素。之所以这样，是因为几年前，一政府机构检测出这种色素中含有能让老鼠至癌的污染物，”

According to the CSPI, pure caramel is made by heating sugar, while the coloring found in cola like Pepsi and Coca-Cola is made by reacting sugars with ammonia. Jacobson said the chemicals the reaction produces have been proven by federal government tests to be carcinogens, a finding that the Coca-Cola Company vehemently disputes.

CSPI（公共利益科学中心）声称，纯焦糖是由热糖制成的，然而例如像可口可乐或者百事可乐中发现的焦糖色素则是由糖和阿摩尼亚产生化学反应制成的。Jacobson说，这种化学反应产生的物质已经由联邦政府检测表明为致癌物质。对于这种说法，可口可乐公司表示强烈反对。

"CSPI's statement irresponsibly insinuates that the caramel used in our beverages is unsafe and maliciously raises cancer concerns among consumers," the company said in a statement. "This does a disservice to the very public for which CSPI purports to serve. In fact studies show that the caramel we use does not cause cancer."

可口可乐公司发表声明称：“CSPI在声明中不负责任地质疑我们饮料中使用的焦糖色素的安全性，这无端挑起了消费者对于癌症的担忧。这对于CSPI的服务对象来说反而是一种伤害行为。事实上，调查表明我们饮料中使用的焦糖色素根本不会致癌。”