The great cola controversy

Source: Aljazeera.net
by Firas Al-Atraqchi

In what is becoming a raging debate over the safety standards of bottled carbonated soft drinks in India, the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment has dismissed government findings that Coca-Cola and Pepsi are not harmful to human consumption.

Disputing studies conducted by the ministry of health which gave the cola companies a clean bill of health as "junk science", the CSE on August 23 reiterated its position that "colas are not safe" and pressed for greater government transparency over the issue.
But Anbumani Ramadoss, India's health minister, told parliament that further testing of the cola products was necessary.
"I have stated in my answer that we are not contradicting the CSE report," he told the media. "It is not that the report is right or wrong. Currently it is inconclusive and we need more details."

The CSE says that the health minister told parliament a total of "two" bottles were tested by the government, which he has used to give the cola companies a certificate of safety. Another 28 bottles have been tested in Gujarat, for which no details are available. "This is dangerous, as it amounts to misleading us about the health impacts of these drinks," the CSE told Aljazeera.net.

On August 25, the CSE said it had been threatened with legal action by pesticide companies for its campaign against pesticide residues in soft drinks. A CSE press release said: "The pesticide industry has been behaving like the proverbial bully. It should immediately stop these intimidating tactics. We dare it to take us to court."

Sunita Narain, CSE's director, said: "The right of individuals and organisations like CSE to carry out action in public interest and in favour of public health cannot be questioned. It is a right to hold industries and governments accountable for their action, and should be strengthened - not suppressed." The CSE is also asking the government to divulge its testing methodologies, its sampling and whether it will provide this information to the Bureau of Indian Standards.