<P> In the 1950s and 1960s there were attempts in France and Japan to ban the sale of Coca - Cola as dangerous since phosphates can block calcium absorption . However, these were unsuccessful as the amounts of phosphate were shown to be too small to have a significant effect . </P> <P> The USDA's recommended daily intake (RDI) of added sugars is less than 10 teaspoons per day for a 2,000 - calorie diet . High caloric intake contributes to obesity if not balanced with exercise, with a large amount of exercise being required to offset even small but calorie - rich food and drinks . </P> <P> Until 1985, most of the calories in soft drinks came from sugar or corn syrup . As of 2010, in the United States high - fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is used nearly exclusively as a sweetener because of its lower cost, while in Europe, sucrose dominates, because EU agricultural policies favor production of sugar beets in Europe proper and sugarcane in the former colonies over the production of corn . HFCS has been criticized as having a number of detrimental effects on human health, such as promoting diabetes, hyperactivity, hypertension, and a host of other problems . Although anecdotal evidence has been presented to support such claims, it is well known that the human body breaks sucrose down into glucose and fructose before it is absorbed by the intestines . Simple sugars such as fructose are converted into the same intermediates as in glucose metabolism . However, metabolism of fructose is extremely rapid and is initiated by fructokinase . Fructokinase activity is not regulated by metabolism or hormones and proceeds rapidly after intake of fructose . While the intermediates of fructose metabolism are similar to those of glucose, the rates of formation are excessive . This fact promotes fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis in the liver, leading to accumulation of fat throughout the body and possibly non-alcoholic fatty liver disease . Increased blood lipid levels also seem to follow fructose ingestion over time . A sugar drink or high - sugar drink may refer to any beverage consisting primarily of water and sugar (often cane sugar or high - fructose corn syrup), including some soft drinks, some fruit juices, and energy drinks . </P> <P> In 2006, the United Kingdom Food Standards Agency published the results of its survey of benzene levels in soft drinks, which tested 150 products and found that four contained benzene levels above the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for drinking water . </P>

Where did the term pop for soda come from