Trouble For Coke And Pepsi? Sugary Drinks May Increase Cancer Risk

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly forms of the disease. The American Cancer Associate says that the five-year survival rate for the condition is only 5%.

New research by the Singapore Chinese Health Study published in the medical journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention showed that regular soda drinkers had an 87% higher chance of getting the cancer than people who drank fruit juice, according to Reuters. The researchers followed 60,000 people over 14 years.

Some experts who reviewed the study said the sample size may be too low for the research to be conclusive, but if follow-up surveys support the case, makers of soft drinks, particularly Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) and Pepsi (NYSE:PEP) face a challenge.

Coke and Pepsi already battle the perception that some of their drinks help increase the rate of obesity, which leads to its own list of health problems. As Western governments, especially the US, try to combat their overweight populations products from fast food chains including McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) and Burger King (NYSE:BKS) have been singled out for serving unhealthy food and drink.

But, pancreatic cancer is a health risk of a different sort. Almost everyone who gets it dies.

Douglas A. McIntyre