Pawar refuses to comments of ban on soft drinks

Mumbai, Aug 5 (UNI) Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today said that he could not comment on the demand for a ban on soft drinks after the NGO Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) came out with a fresh report claiming high level of peiticides in coka and pepsi.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Pawar said he was the JPC chairman 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 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.

He said even coconut and mother's milk contained pesticide residue but the level of is not harmful.

UNI MR PM PR RN1853