Danish researchers at the University of Copenhagen have found high levels of a cancer-linked chemical in 16 fruit juices regularly drunk by children.

The Daily Mail reports that the researchers investigated 42 different red fruit juice drinks from Denmark, Scotland and Greece, which included blackcurrant, strawberry, raspberry and sour cherry flavours. The brands were not named by the team, but were the sort of drinks that might be popular with children.

The team found that levels of antimony were 2.5 times higher than the ‘safe’ limit in tap water under EU guidelines. In large doses, the chemical antimony can be fatal – and in some drinks, levels were 10 times the ‘safe’ limit .

In 2006, researchers in Germany found antimony was leaking into bottled mineral waters from the plastic bottle or container – and in 2005, some bottles of Volvic mineral water were found to contain a harmful chemical.

Volvic’s manufacturer, Danone Waters, launched an investigation into the problem after a mother reported a strong, 'burning' chemical taste to the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

The FSA discovered that some bottles of the water contained the chemical naphthalene, which can cause liver damage if consumed in large doses.

PhD pharmacology student Claus Hansen – who was part of the Copenhagen team – suggested that citric acid in the fruit juice might be speeding up the absorption of antimony from the container to the juice itself, but added that no legislation had been broken as there are no set levels for antimony in foodstuffs. The researchers have called for more research to be undertaken.

Antimony is also used in the manufacture of electronics and flame-proofing materials – and can also be used medicinally to treat patients suffering from parasites. Side effects can include nausea and vomiting – and previous studies have linked high levels of antimony to cancer, heart and lung problems.

The British Soft Drinks Association has defended the safety record of the drinks industry, however:

'Fruit juices and juice drinks are safe,' said a spokesman for the association. 'The packaging is safe. The data in the study does not confirm any conclusions about the packaging – the authors themselves conclude that "further studies are warranted".'

The spokesman added that the levels of substances allowed in water or fruit juices varied and could not necessarily be compared.

'It is not uncommon that different product types should have different regulatory requirements,’ he said. 'All ingredients and packaging are carefully regulated to make sure that soft drinks are safe to drink.’

The findings of the study are published by Royal Society of Chemistry in the Journal of Environmental Monitoring.

The society said:

'Marketing – certainly for the cordial products – is geared towards children: it's a children's drink. This means they are more likely to drink it and more likely to be at risk.’

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