CSE report triggers widespread protests demanding ban on soft drinks

New Delhi, Aug 5 (UNI) The latest report of Centre for Science and Environment on high level of pesticides in Coke and Pepsi has triggered country-wide protests with some states contemplating a ban on the sales of the soft drinks.

Information&Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi today said Pepsico, Coca Cola and Cadbury should understand the law of the land governing the production of consumer goods.

''The key issue particularly in the food and consumer goods sector, today, is to understand the legislations and yardsticks that are being set for the products,'' he told a gathering of All India Management Association's graduating students here.

Union Minister, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Sharad Pawar refused to comment on the demand for a ban. Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Mr Pawar said he was the JPC chairman a few years ago and the committee had submitted its recommendations to the government. ''The ministry concerned, acting upon the recommendations, had introduced the food processing bill which was passed in the Parliament earlier this week. It is upto the experts to frame the rules like the permissible level of pesticide residue as early as possible,'' he added.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court issued notice to Coca Cola and Pepsico alongwith the Centre on a PIL seeking an effective regulatory regime to check contamination of the drinks by highly toxic and addictive ingredients.

Meanwhile, the Punjab health authorities raided the bottling plants of different soft drinks, inlcuding Coke, Pepsi, Limca, Maaza, Slice, 7 Up and collected 60 samples to be sent for tests to a government laboratory in Patiala.

Various political parties and social organisation staged dharna in Uttaranchal demanding a ban on the drinks. State unit of Samajwadi Party under the leadership of its National General Secretary Vinod Bartwal demonstrated at the Gandhi Park and poured Coke and Pepsi into the drains.

He said the government should also ban advertisements of these products throughout the country and urged Cricket and film personalities against taking advertisment contracts of these products. ''There should be a total government control over these Multi-National Companies,'' he said.

The Jharkhand government is also considering a ban on cold drinks in the state. Chief Minister Arjun Munda said since the consumption of such drinks is injurious to health, the state government was seriously contemplating on banning the products the region.

The Jorhat-based bottling plant of Coca Cola has come under the scanner of the Asom government. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had yesterday ordered an enquiry after media reports alleged that the bottling was being done in unhygienic conditions and the used bottles were being re-used without proper recycling.

The Consumer Society of Dimapur in Nagaland has already imposed the ban. Addressing newspersons here today, general secretary of the Society V Vinito Chopphy cautioned the consumers and stockiest not to buy or sale soft drinks till the case was finalised by the Centre.

The Tamil Nadu unit of Communist Party of India (Marxist) also demanded a ban and said the state government, on the otherhand, should encourage the sale of tender coconut and palm drink, which were good for health and would also help to generate employment opportunities for rural people.

UNI TEAM PR KN1910