Coke settles benzene lawsuits

In Georgia business news -- Atlanta-based Coca-Cola has reached a settlement in lawsuits seeking to force soft-drink makers to eliminate ingredients that can form cancer-causing benzene. In settling cases in three states, Coke agreed to offer replacement drinks to anyone who purchased Fanta Pineapple or Vault Zero before September 2006. Coke says it’s also voluntarily decided to reformulate the two beverages. Other soft-drink makers, including Pepsi, remain defendants in related lawsuits.