New Delhi, Aug 21: The government today gave a clean chit to 12 soft drink brands, including Coke and Pepsi in the pesticide controversy. Union Health Minister Sushma Swaraj said that the samples of these soft drinks were well within safety limits, prescribed for packaged drinking water. "The results clearly show that all the 12 samples do not have pesticide residues of the high order as was alleged in a report by the Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi-based NGO," Swaraj told the Lok Sabha.

However the CSE today said it was disappointed with the government decision and has questioned the validity of the tests performed on the samples.
The NGO had alleged that in the case of 12 soft drink brands, of which samples had been taken, it had found pesticide residues which exceeded EU norms ranging from 11 to 70 times.
It had warned that consumption of these brands over a long period would result in complicated health problems.

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

When CSE had published its report, the parliament had been quick to react by banning all colas from the parliament complex. But today even the health minister`s clarification did not seem to have any effect on the cynics in Prliament.

Meanwhile soft drink majors Coca-Cola and Pepsi have welcomed the government`s decision.
"We have the utmost praise and respect for the (Health and Family Welfare) Ministry`s leadership on this issue and have full faith in the Indian authorities to develop science-based standards," said Coca-Cola India President, Sanjiv Gupta.
"The government has categorically declared our products safe. We are pleased that the ministry shares our confidence in the safety of our products," added Pepsico Chairman Rajiv Bakshi.
Asked whether the company would take legal action against the Centre for Science and Environment for alleging that its products contained pesticides far higher than allowed, Gupta said, "We are not suing CSE. Our focus will instead be to restore consumer confidence in our products."
He said Coca-Cola`s sales have been affected by as much as 15 per cent in some areas after the allegations were first made public by CSE.
Bureau Report