Whole Foods recently took Skinnygirl Margaritas off their shelves after finding that the cocktail contained sodium, benzoate. Whole Foods claims that they were unaware that it contained this ingredient before and that it did not meet their "quality standards." Skinnygirl cocktails does not list their ingredients on the bottle, but does label it as containing only "natural ingredients." Sodium benzoate (E211) is a common preservative used in items such as soft drinks, juice, salad dressings, etc. Although sodium benzoate has not been shown to be a carcinogenic on its own, when combined with vitamin C (ascorbic acid) the combination creates a chemical called benzene which has been been shown to be carcinogenic and has been linked to ADHD and DNA damage. The dangers with including sodium benzoate in Skinnygirl margaritas is that another ingredient in the cocktail is lime juice.
You can argue that the amount of benzene in the Skinnygirl cocktails is not enough to do any damage unless you decided to drink a few gallons. But benzene isn't only found in food and beverages, it is also in tobacco smoke, car exhaust, glues, paints, and many more items. So the question is, if we have the chance to avoid further exposure to this chemical, isn't it worth it?
Skinnygirl cocktails have gained fame for being a low-calorie option for yummy margaritas and sangrias. But you can also make your own low-calorie cocktails on your own, and save yourself from extra chemical exposure. Here is a low-calorie cocktail recipe that you can create on your own.
- Choice of tequila
- Limes
- Cointreau
- Ice
I don't have the exact measurements, since I'm always just eying it when I make them. But squeeze the limes into a glass with tequila, then top with a splash of cointreau, and enjoy.
Pura Vida!
Alica Ryan, NTP
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