What has the world become, pop may now be classified as a killer, right along with Fen-Phen. This is a world in which I am not sure I want to live in. A recent study has indicated that Sodium Benzoate, a common preservative in pop (including Mountain Dew ) as well as pickles, and sauces may cause cell damage. Professor Peter Piper of the University of Sheffield has shown that Sodium Benzoate can cause damage to the mitochondria of yeast cells. While I am certain that much work has to be done before this is conclusive and I am certain studies will be released that indicate the opposite, this study does seem to bother me for reasons that are not quite logical.

However, I question the motives of Peter Piper. I am not quite certain why he wants to bring these studies to light when it is well known that he likes to pick a peck of pickled peppers (which likely contains Sodium Benzoate).

-Trevor