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Non-profit identifies beverage brand owners using chemical catalyst that may increase risk of cancers, heart disease, and other organ toxicity used in the production of PET plastic 

Portland, ME — New “Detox the Bottle” beverage pledge challenged beverage brands with two simple questions: Are they willing to learn more about safer alternatives to antimony and cobalt as catalysts for their bottle production and are they willing to discuss these alternatives with their bottlers?

As a follow up to the beverage testing that Defend Our Health completed just last year, the organization worked with the Ecology Center to test the bottles of the various brands outlined in the pledge and unfortunately, antimony was detected in all of them. After receiving the test results, Defend contacted the companies and gave them an opportunity to address and commit to the pledge.

Of the 19 companies sampled, all 19 had at least one sample with detectable antimony in the bottle. Of all 53 bottle samples tested, only five did not contain detectable levels of antimony in them. Among the 19 companies, only two were willing to make public commitments, including Keurig Dr Pepper. The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Nestle, and Danone were among those unwilling to commit.

“It’s unfortunate that the two companies with the greatest control over the PET plastic bottle supply chain, The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo, aren’t willing to come clean to their consumers about the antimony and cobalt in their bottles,” said Maya Rommwatt, Senior Market Campaigner at Defend. “These two brand owners have the power and resources to source safer bottles and make it infinitely easier for all other companies to follow suit, yet they appear to be hoping the issue will disappear.”

Antimony and cobalt are potentially dangerous additives that are used during the Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle production process, typically as a catalyst that speeds up the process of making plastic. Unfortunately, these cancer-causing chemicals remain in the bottle after its production and often leach into the beverage itself, putting consumers at risk of exposure. 

This pledge is a critical first step in corporate accountability. The brands that responded in the affirmative are noted in the results table on the pledge website. Brands that responded in the negative or did not reply at all are also noted. Products were tested from 19 brand owners, with samples ranging from one to nine. All products were purchased in either San Francisco, CA, or Portland, ME.

“It is crucial that companies are held accountable for the presence of dangerous processing aids in their product packaging,” said Chris Chavis, Vice President of Programs and Policy at Defend. “Beverage brand owners must take steps now to source safer bottles. The public deserves full transparency on these matters and a commitment from brands that they will clean up their bottles.”

You may find out more about the pledge at our website here.