Colas continue to be toxic
The study conducted on 57 samples from 25 manufacturing plants of Coke and Pepsi across 12 states has revealed a cocktail of three to six different pesticides in the samples.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: Colas are under a cloud again. Three years after Centre for Science and Environment released its study on pesticides in soft drinks which was later endorsed by a joint parliamentary committee, fresh tests run by the NGO have again found pesticides in 11 soft drink brands.
The study conducted on 57 samples from 25 manufacturing plants of Coke and Pepsi across 12 states has revealed a cocktail of three to six different pesticides in the samples.
CSE chief Sunita Narain said on Wednesday that the new survey by CSE’s pollution-monitoring laboratory has found that on average, the amount of pesticide found was 24 times higher than the approved limit set by the Bureau of Indian Standards.While Pepsi contained 30 times higher residues on average, Coca-Cola contained 27 times higher residues.
The Indian Soft Drink Manufacturers Association (ISDMA) countered the CSE findings. In a statement, it said: ‘‘The soft drinks manufactured in India comply with stringent international norms and all applicable national regulations. Over the past three years, the soft drinks industry has worked with the government (ministry of health and BIS), scientific community and NGOs to establish stringent science based norms.’’
But the CSE study said Lindane (a confirmed carcinogen) levels were over 54 times above BIS standard in general.
The study conducted on 57 samples from 25 manufacturing plants of Coke and Pepsi across 12 states has revealed a cocktail of three to six different pesticides in the samples.
CSE chief Sunita Narain said on Wednesday that the new survey by CSE’s pollution-monitoring laboratory has found that on average, the amount of pesticide found was 24 times higher than the approved limit set by the Bureau of Indian Standards.While Pepsi contained 30 times higher residues on average, Coca-Cola contained 27 times higher residues.
The Indian Soft Drink Manufacturers Association (ISDMA) countered the CSE findings. In a statement, it said: ‘‘The soft drinks manufactured in India comply with stringent international norms and all applicable national regulations. Over the past three years, the soft drinks industry has worked with the government (ministry of health and BIS), scientific community and NGOs to establish stringent science based norms.’’
But the CSE study said Lindane (a confirmed carcinogen) levels were over 54 times above BIS standard in general.
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