Expert committee punches holes in CSE`s pesticide report

Our Corporate Bureau
22 August 2006

New Delhi: The report of the official expert committee constituted by union health minister Anubumi Ramdoss on 4 August, 2006, to examine "the methodology of sampling, methodology of testing and validity as well as the consistency of results derived by CSE in its report," has pointed out to the flaws in the report of pesticides in Coke and Pepsi.

The report of the committee, headed by Dr D Kannungo, was made public by the health ministry today.

In its report that could provide some relief to soft drink MNCs Pepsi and Coke, the experts committee has faulted the Centre for Science and Environment report on pesticides in saying, "The (CSE) report does not provide details about a number of pertinent points, which are required for the confirmatory interpretation of quantum results."

"Balanced approach (by CSE in reviewing the literatures on various aspects) has not been followed while undertaking the scientific review." The expert committee said that not only the sampling methodology lacked "scientific and statistically valid basis" but the "residue data reported based on GC-mass confirmation is inconclusive."

The committee, constitute by the government within days of Sunita Narain, director, CSE, coming out with the report that claimed presence of very high level of pesticides in various brands of US Cola giants Pepsico and Coca Cola. The sales of the two Colas have been banned partially or completely in some states