What were the differences in sampling methods adopted by you and the other laboratories based on which the Centre has given a statement? Krishnadas Rai, BangaloreCSE collected the samples from different markets in Delhi. The samples were collected by the laboratory personnel of CSE, on a random basis. The laboratory report officially released by the government on August 28 does not detail the sampling procedures used and therefore, it is very difficult for us to comment on where and how the samples analysed by the government were collected. Have you thought about another inquiry — about the declared amount of active ingredients in different medicines? Particularly, small pharmaceutical companies which are playing with the lives of poor consumers? Dr. Prasanta K MaitiThis is clearly an important issue but unfortunately we just don’t have the capacities to undertake such a study. But, as you may have read, a government appointed committee, under Dr R A Mashelkar has just completed a comprehensive inquiry into the issue of spurious drugs and I am sure this will bring changes in the laws and regulations to improve the quality of medicines we use. Why have the Centre’s and many other state govts’ tests of cola samples thrown up results that contradict yours? Where is the catch?A ParameshamIt is difficult to answer this. We do not have access to all the state government reports so that we can understand the methodology used for collecting the samples and testing. We have been able to study the report released by the government of the analysis done by the Central Food Technological Research Institute in Mysore, based on samples sent by the Directorate General of Health Services in the Ministry of Health. From a careful scrutiny of this report — which has found pesticides in 100 per cent of the samples, but at much lower levels than what CSE had found — we find that the methodology and equipment used for testing is the same. But what does differ is the batch numbers of the samples tested. The entire numbering structure of the batches collected by us from the markets and those sent by the ministry to the lab is different. The CFTRI scientists, therefore, explain that given this entirely different batch numbering, the ‘‘results obtained are not comparable’’ of the two labs. Therefore, the issue, is not how we both tested but what we tested. Even though we do not understand why there should be such a variation in the batches but this issue, clearly will need further investigation. I would like to assure you that we have done our best to put forward the test results, without any malice or malafide — that is, we have not hyped up the results. We have reported simply what we found in our laboratory, which is equipped with the appropriate testing instruments and personnel. But, it is equally important to realise that the level of pesticides detected will vary based on the consumption of pesticides in the region and the quality of water that is used in the product, as well, of course, the quality of manufacturing. It is for this reason that we have been asking for regulations on pesticide levels in the water used for manufacturing and on the final product. Why is the CSE not focussing on the basic issue — that of our polluted water sources? Why is that CSE is not worried about a billion people’s health and only focussing on colas consumed by a few millions who could afford them? And if the water sources are proved to be polluted, what would the option? To stop drinking water altogether?ManuI am glad you asked this question because it gives me a chance to explain that for us, the big and vital issue, is exactly what you have said — lack of potable drinking water in the country. We have been campaigning on issues of access to water and pollution for many years now. The issue is not to give up drinking water but to insist that we have the fundamental right to clean and safe water. But this will take work to implement. Firstly, there are no legal standards for the quality of drinking water in the country. We have raised this issue strongly and are delighted that the Supreme Court has taken notice and asked the government to respond on this issue and secondly, that the Union minister of Health, Sushma Swaraj, has also announced last week, that her ministry is considering including water as food — essentially bringing it under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act and setting standards for quality and safety. This will give all of us the legal right to safe water. But then we will also have to ensure that agencies have the ability to provide clean water. We will also have to fight against pollution as the increasing contamination is making our water deadly. Literally. This will have to be done by all of us, in particular, the urban middle classes, who are becoming extremely wasteful guzzlers of water in the country. I am keen on suing CSE for causing public panic, and loss of revenue to an industrial enterprise (Coke, Pepsi) through your report which has since been discredited by tests conducted by other states. Vadi DhurganLet me assure you that our tests have not been discredited. Yes, government released tests of 12 bottles, have found lesser levels of pesticides. But these are not so low that you can discount our report completely. Pesticides are dangerous in small quantities as these are ingested over time and accumulate in our bodies. Therefore, you can sue us, if you wish, but I would also suggest that you should sue the agencies, which are responsible for checking and mandating levels of safe pesticides in our food, because they are certainly not doing a good job. Have you been disappointed by the public response to your findings regarding colas? Don’t you think you have been let down by the masses?Krishna kumarNo, on the contrary, we believe that people have responded overwhelmingly to this issue because it is a health issue. Let me also make it clear that we never asked for a ban on the drinking of soft drinks, what we wanted was for government to enact regulations for this industry and obviously for all our food industries. We believe, to some extent, this has happened. Why are you singling out colas when all the Indian food products are contaminated? The world is going to ban all the food and medicine items imported from India sooner or later because of your directionless reports. Sudesh KumarWe are not singling out colas, our aim is to push for a vibrant and health-based system for setting standards for food and for monitoring quality and adulteration. Let me assure you that the world will ban imports from India, if we don’t have such systems in place. Last month, many European countries banned the import of chilli powder from India, because they detected a carcinogen industrial dye, Sudan red 1. When we investigated this for our magazine, Down To Earth, we found adulteration with this dye is common in India. We have to worry about this for all our sakes, forget exports.
