Untitled Document
 |
|
The earlier report sparked protests in India
|
An Indian non-governmental organisation says samples of Coca-Cola and
Pepsi products are showing even worse levels of pesticides than in a previous
study.
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said their investigations revealed
that the drinks contain harmful residues, posing a health risk.
A CSE report in 2003 resulted in Pepsi and Coca-Cola strenuously rejecting
claims that their drinks were unsafe.
Soft drinks manufacturers have condemned the latest findings.
"Soft drinks are completely safe," the Indian Soft Drink Manufacturers
Association (ISDMA) said in a statement on Wednesday.
"The soft drinks manufactured in India comply with stringent international
norms and all applicable national regulations."
Public outcry
CSE Director Sunita Narain told journalists in Delhi that samples from 12 states
showed that Pepsi products contained 30 times more pesticides than found in
2003.
 |
|
"This is a grave public health scandal" CSE Director Sunita Narain
|
Likewise she said that Coke samples had 25 times the amount of pesticides found
three years ago.
She alleged that despite the public outcry over the issue following the first
report, the government has failed to set up the necessary quality-control standards
for the soft drinks industry.
India does not have any purity standards for soft drinks.
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) - the highest government body to maintain
product quality certification - has set a pesticide standard for bottled-water
only.
The CSE study used that recommendation in their tests.
In 2003, an Indian parliamentary committee upheld the CSE findings on the presence
of pesticide residues and recommended that standards were set for soft drinks
too.
The Indian Food Processing Industries minister, Subodh Kant Sahay said the
government would look into the matter when it receives an official complaint.
________________________
Read from Looking Glass News
Coca
Cola
India:
Everything Gets Worse With Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
and Water - An Unsustainable Relationship
Coca-Cola
Faces Mounting Pressure over Abusive Practices at Plants Worldwide
Coke:
The New Nike
Soft Drinks Found to Have High Levels of Cancer Chemical
Soda
Deal with Clinton Foundation Latest PR Stunt
Drink
More Diet Soda, Gain More Weight?
U.
of Michigan Becomes 10th College to Join Boycott of Coke
Coca-Cola
Threatens Top Indian Photographer with Lawsuit
Mexican
shop owner beats Coca Cola
