Under attack, cola majors get cracking

And, in a damage control exercise, Coca Cola today asserting that pesticide level in its products were well within stringent European Union standards. However, CSE Centre for Science and Environment stuck by its report and dared the cola majors to disclose the test results.

8216;8216;8230;No detectable level of pesticides in Indian soft drinks when measured against the EU criteria in independent lab study,8217;8217; a Coca-Cola India statement said here today. The company8217;s statement follows action taken by a number of state governments, including Kerala, which had banned production and sale of colas in the state.

The statement by Coke was followed by a quick rejoinder by CSE which said that the products tested by its lab do not meet the norms, both Indian and European Union, as claimed and were unsafe.

Coca Cola has asserted that its soft drinks have been regularly tested and evaluated by a world renowned UK Government Laboratory8212;Central Science Laboratories CSL8212; and conformed to the stringent standards. 8216;8216;All tests show that our soft drinks are below the EU criteria for pesticide residues in bottled water,8217;8217; the cola giant said.

CSE refuted Coca Cola8217;s statement saying that the cola companies have repeatedly been telling the government ministries and committees that their products are a complex matrix and therefore cannot be tested. CSE also alleged that the cola majors had failed to disclose any test results to prove the safety of its products.

8216;8216;Our demand to the government is notify the finalised standards of the Bureau of Indian Standards BIS for carbonated beverages and make the regulation for this product mandatory,8217;8217; CSE Director Sunita Narain said.

Meanwhile, Coca Cola India said it also supported a move by the government to adopt a clear criteria for pesticide residues in soft drinks, which are based on scientifically validated testing methods. 8216;8216;We are working with relevant government bodies in India to develop and finalise the criteria along with their associated testing protocols for pesticide residues in soft drinks,8217;8217; it said.

Coke also said it was committed to provide the same quality standard for products in India as it was elsewhere in the world. 8216;8216;We have the same uncompromising commitment to product safety and quality in our beverages in India that we offer around the world,8217;8217; it said.

Kerala ban only covers MNC8217;s colas

KOCHI: The state health department today asked its personnel to prevent sale of Coke and Pepsi in the state, after the government issued formal orders banning both their production and distribution. The ban order covers only colas of the two MNCs, and none of their their other carbonated drinks. The ban also does not extend to the many other cola brands in the state.