Coke settles suits over benzene risk

Coca-Cola Co. said it settled three lawsuits by consumers who said pineapple-flavored Fanta and Vault Zero sodas contained cancer-causing benzene if exposed to heat.

Coca-Cola paid $500 each to an unspecified number of plaintiffs and agreed to refund or replace pineapple Fanta and Vault Zero drinks purchased before September, when the beverages were reformulated to minimize benzene formation, court documents show.