08-05-2006, 02:01 PM
Glad i dont drink coke or pepsi , just stick to the traditional drinks like coffee or alcohol for my drugs .
India's top court seeks soda disclosure
Sat Aug 5, 631 AM ET
NEW DELHI - India's top court has asked Coca-Cola and Pepsi to disclose the ingredients in the soft drinks they sell here amid allegations the drinks contain high levels of pesticide.
The Supreme Court notice on Friday came days after a New Delhi-based independent research body said it found samples of Coke and Pepsi contained pesticide residue that was 24 times above the limits set by the Bureau of Indian Standards.
The Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi said it carried out tests on 57 samples taken from 11 soft drink brands made by Coca-Cola India and PepsiCo India.
Offices of Coca-Cola and PepsiCo were closed Saturday and none of their officials could be reached for comment.
Both companies denied the charges earlier in the week, saying the soft drinks they manufacture and sell in India "comply with stringent international norms and all applicable national regulations."
But a petition filed in the Supreme Court on Friday said that the drinks "contained highly toxic, acidic and addictive ingredients dangerous for human consumption," and that the consumer had a right to know about the contents, The Hindu newspaper reported.
The toxins found in the soft drinks could, if consumed over a long period, cause cancer, birth defects and damage to the nervous system, the Center for Science and Environment said in a report released earlier this week.
The center said nothing had changed since it first brought allegations against Coke and Pepsi in 2004 that the pesticide residue in their soft drinks made in India was 30 to 36 times higher than
European Union standards. At the time the Supreme Court asked the federal government to bring strict guidelines to regulate the manufacturing of such soft drinks.
On Friday, Health Minister A. Ramadoss said he would make a statement on the issue in Parliament next week .
India's top court seeks soda disclosure
Sat Aug 5, 631 AM ET
NEW DELHI - India's top court has asked Coca-Cola and Pepsi to disclose the ingredients in the soft drinks they sell here amid allegations the drinks contain high levels of pesticide.
The Supreme Court notice on Friday came days after a New Delhi-based independent research body said it found samples of Coke and Pepsi contained pesticide residue that was 24 times above the limits set by the Bureau of Indian Standards.
The Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi said it carried out tests on 57 samples taken from 11 soft drink brands made by Coca-Cola India and PepsiCo India.
Offices of Coca-Cola and PepsiCo were closed Saturday and none of their officials could be reached for comment.
Both companies denied the charges earlier in the week, saying the soft drinks they manufacture and sell in India "comply with stringent international norms and all applicable national regulations."
But a petition filed in the Supreme Court on Friday said that the drinks "contained highly toxic, acidic and addictive ingredients dangerous for human consumption," and that the consumer had a right to know about the contents, The Hindu newspaper reported.
The toxins found in the soft drinks could, if consumed over a long period, cause cancer, birth defects and damage to the nervous system, the Center for Science and Environment said in a report released earlier this week.
The center said nothing had changed since it first brought allegations against Coke and Pepsi in 2004 that the pesticide residue in their soft drinks made in India was 30 to 36 times higher than
European Union standards. At the time the Supreme Court asked the federal government to bring strict guidelines to regulate the manufacturing of such soft drinks.
On Friday, Health Minister A. Ramadoss said he would make a statement on the issue in Parliament next week .