August 3, 2010

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
ABA Press Office
(202) 463-6770

AMERICAN BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION STATEMENT ON PANCREATIC CANCER STUDY

In response to "Fructose Induces Transketolase Flux to Promote Pancreatic Cancer Growth," a study published in the journal Cancer Research, Dr. Maureen Storey, senior vice president for science policy for the American Beverage Association, said:

"It is important to recognize that this was not a clinical trial performed on humans, but rather a test tube study. In addition, the isolated cancer cells were subjected to extremely high levels of fructose that are unlikely in normal human metabolic processes. In fact, human beings do not typically consume fructose by itself, as it is normally found in combination with glucose in fruits and vegetables, or in the form of sucrose or high fructose corn syrup as found in myriad foods and beverages.

The fact remains that no single food or beverage causes cancer, including pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, no authoritative body, such as the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health, acknowledges that fructose consumption causes cancer or is a unique risk factor for cancer. We know that the identified risk factors for pancreatic cancer include age, smoking, race, being male, family history and a diagnosis of diabetes or chronic pancreatitis."

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The American Beverage Association is the trade association representing the broad spectrum of companies that manufacture and distribute non-alcoholic beverages in the United States.