Maldives bans Dr Pepper over high levels of benzoic acid

Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) has ordered the recall of ‘Dr Pepper’ over high levels of benzoic acid in the carbonated soft drink.

In a statement on Tuesday, the MFDA ordered businesses to stop the sale of Dr Pepper, pull it from the market, and destroy it.

MFDA said that it has been alerted by the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) shipments of Dr Pepper, a US product, have been imported to the Maldives.

“Therefore, we order you to stop the import, sale and consumption of this product in the Maldives as a precautionary measure,” said the MFDA.

Benzoic acid is used in many foods to stop harmful micro-organisms growing. However, high levels of benzoic acid can lead to the formation of the cancer-causing agent benzene.