Coke, Pepsi contain cocktail of pesticide residues, claims CSE

Our Corporate Bureau
06 August 2003

New Delhi: The Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has revealed in a study that a "cocktail of pesticide residues" are contained in the soft drink brands belonging to Coca-Cola and Pepsi.

Though these two companies operate within the food laws prevalent in India, CSE alleges that they exercised "double standards" in terms of selling "dirty cola" in India, while their products in the US, for instance, contain no pesticides.

CSE says its study found that 12 major brands sold in the capital, including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Mirinda, Diet Pepsi and Limca, contained pesticide residues. "The tests were done in our labs, based on international methodology and the study was funded by CSE," says CSE director Sunita Narain.

Only six months ago, the same organisation had opened a can of worms on pesticide residue in bottled water and the exercise had ended with the Indian health ministry notifying new norms for pesticides in packaged drinking water.