Meghalaya govt collects samples of Coke and Pepsi for testing

Shillong, Aug 12 (UNI) Meghalaya government collected samples of 'Pepsi' and 'Coca Cola' today to ascertain whether they contained pesticides.

''We collected samples and sent them to Central Food Laboratory, Kolkata for testing,'' Health and Family Welfare Minister, Elstone D Marak told UNI here.

Mr Marak said the attested report would be sent to the Centre to decide whether to impose any ban on selling soft drinks in the state.

Meanwhile, the Meghalaya People's Human Rights Commission (MPHRC) urged Mr Marak to immediately ban the sale of 'Coca Cola' and 'Pepsi' in the state.

''All products of the two soft drinks company should be seized and tested in order to ascertain the pesticide level in them,'' the MPHRC said.

MPHRC Secretary General DDG Dympep also informed the minister that states like Kerala and Arunachal Pradesh had already banned these products after the Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi had detected pesticides in them.

UNI RRK SP SI VV1846