Colas Still Contains Pesticides: CSE study

A fresh test conducted by Center for Science and Environment (CSE) has revealed high levels of pesticide content in colas. The revelation comes after the expose conducted three years back, thereby putting the cola giants in dire straits.

CSE had tested 57 samples of 11 soft drink brands from various manufacturing plants across the country, and detected copious amounts of pesticides in popular soft drink brands-Coca-Cola and Pepsi.Speaking at a press conference here, CSE?s Director, Sunita Narain said, ?Soft drinks remain unhealthy and unsafe. Even though three years have elapsed and scores of meetings have been conducted, the status remains the same. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has set the norms but these have not been notified.?

Pepsi with the highest pesticide content has 30 times higher pesticide residues on an average, while Coca-Cola has 27 times higher residues. The results have been confirmed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry tests as recommended by the Joint Parliamentary Committee after the report three years ago, Narain added.

However the soft drink Manufacturers association countered the findings and maintained that the Drinks comply with the international norms and national regulations. Expectedly, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss ruled out any probe to find out if there were pesticides in colas. ?We are trying to do it in a scientific manner in specifying the standards", he stated.