Consumer Reports said an ingredient found in Pepsi products is a carcinogen. Yes, it's true - Natural News said Pepsi even admitted to it when a lawsuit was filed against them after high levels of 4-Mel were found in their popular beverages!

4-Mel is short for 4-Methylimiddazole and is a chemical compound formed during the process of creating the caramel color used in Pepsi's products.

Studies done in 2007 by the federal government's National Toxicology Program led the state of California to recognize 4-Mel as a carcinogen after studies revealed long-term exposure to 4-Mel resulted in lung cancer in laboratory mice. As a result, California now requires companies to include warning labels on their products if it exposes consumers to an excess of 4-Mel. If there is over 29 micrograms of 4-Mel in the product, it is required by law to have a cancer-risk warning label.

Despite California's attempt at preventing over exposure to this chemical, the health risk is still there because many consumers have more than one can of soda per day. So even if a soda contains less than 29 micrograms of 4-Mel, those who consume more than one soda a day are still at great risk of overexposure.

In 2013, Consumer Reports Food Safety & Sustainability Center tested several different sodas to determine the levels of 4-Mel in them. Their results showed Pepsi well exceeded the amount deemed legal by California. Regular Pepsi averaged around 174 micrograms per can in the first test.

When Consumer Reports contacted Pepsi to inform them of the test results, Pepsi argued that the average amount of soda consumed by people is less than a third of a 12-ounce can and therefore, the per-day exposure is less than 29 micrograms no matter how much is actually in the full can.

Urvashi Rangan, toxicologist and executive director of Consumer Reports, said "Manufacturers have lower 4-Mel alternatives available to them. Ideally, there should be no 4-Mel in food."

Pepsi said they are working to alter the way they produce soda in order to reduce the amount of 4-Mel in their beverages.

Meanwhile, in order to limit your exposure to this chemical, avoid products that list artificial color or specifically "caramel color" on their labels.