Hard times likely for soft drinks

NEW DELHI: The government is increasingly getting conscious about the health of people. After launching a campaign against tobacco, the health ministry is now considering to ascertain the illeffects of carbonated water or soft-drinks.

The ministry has asked the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to undertake a ���controlled study��� to assess effect of consumption of carbonated water on health.

���ICMR is currently examining the feasibility of carrying out such a study,��� minister of state for health & family welfare Panabaka Lakshmi said. The ministry asked ICMR to initiate the study as per the recommendation of a the national-level expert group.

The group was constituted for providing technical input to the pesticide residues sub-group of the Central Committee for Food Standards, examining pesticide residue in the soft drink.

The expert group was constituted in November 2004 amidst cola controversy, raised by a a year ago. According to an official in the health ministry, the expert committee observed it was difficult to establish co-relationship between consumption of carbonated water and its effects on health.