Dietary exposure of secondary school students in Hong Kong to benzoic acid in prepackaged non-alcoholic beverages.

摘要

This study evaluated the dietary exposure of secondary school students in Hong Kong to benzoic acid from pre-packaged non-alcoholic beverages. Exposure was estimated using local food consumption data of secondary school students obtained by a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire in 2000 and the benzoic acid level detected in pre-packaged beverages, including soft drinks (both diet and regular), fruit juices, soy milk, Chinese tea and coffee/tea available locally in late 2006. Results showed that the estimated dietary exposure to benzoic acid from pre-packaged beverages of average and high consumers (95th percentile) was 0.31 and 0.97 mg/kg body wt./day, respectively. These exposures accounted for 6.1 and 19.3% of the acceptable daily intake (ADI: 0-5 mg/kg body wt.) of benzoic acid for average and high consumers, respectively. It is concluded that soft drinks contribute most to dietary exposure to benzoic acid from pre-packaged beverages in Hong Kong, in line with other countries.