Protest over pesticides in PEPSI, Coca Cola

[Awesome]

Now this is stupid. Two major sources of FDI. Instead India should've fined the two companies heavily and installed strict inspection units.

Not to mention the issue has not even been proven in COURT. It's just a claim. Probably true but still just a claim.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14288050/

Widespread bans hit Coke and Pepsi in India

A quarter of India's 28 states have announced partial or total bans on Coca-Cola and PepsiCo in the wake of fresh concerns over pesticide levels in soft drinks.

More bans are expected in the coming days in a political backlash against the US companies that has the potential to disrupt flows of US and other foreign investment to India.

The US has urged Manmohan Singh, India's prime minister, to take the lead in resolving the crisis, according to one person close to the situation. "There's been government contact and there's going to be more government contact because the potential impact this could have on the investment climate is very serious," he said. "These are world class and symbolic US companies getting kicked".

Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, two southern states, on Thursday joined Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh in banning the sale of Coca-Cola and Pepsi products in and around publicly funded schools and government offices.

Kerala, a southern stronghold of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), on Wednesday became the first state to impose a total ban on the making and selling of the cola majors' products.

"We have decided to ban the production and distribution of Coca-Cola and Pepsi with immediate effect," said Kerala's newly-elected chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan, an 83-year-old Communist Party of India (Marxist) stalwart.

Kerala is also expected to withdraw operating licences from Coca-Cola's Plachimada plant, closed by village council order since 2004, and Pepsi's plant at Kanjikode, where the companies have been producing the Kinley and Aquafina water brands.

Kerala currently accounts for about 5 per cent of the 500m cases of soft drinks sold annually in India. The state once represented nearly 10 per cent of the $1.6bn market before a controversial 2004 campaign in 2004 against water depletion in the village of Plachimada brought down sales.

The states acted after a Delhi-based NGO, the Centre for Science and the Environment, last week released a report showing Indian colas contain on average 24 times permitted pesticide levels.

But the two companies say they are victims of a campaign by opposition and leftwing parties to embarrass a Congress government for cultivating close ties with the US.

Industry analysts said most Coke and Pepsi products are consumed in India's biggest cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai – which have yet to be directly affected by the bans.

Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have run advertisements in newspapers insisting their products are safe and conform to global as well as Indian standards, but have otherwise refused to comment on what they say is an industry-wide matter.

Coke, which returned to India in 1993 after being forced out in the late 1970s, has 60 per cent of the domestic market, compared to 38 per cent for Pepsi and 2 per cent for local producers.

Both companies argue their colas contain insignificant levels of pesticides – present in the groundwater used in soft drinks – compared to those found in milk, eggs and most meats.

B. Prabhakar, president of the Indo-US Chamber of Commerce, said the bans will "send the wrong signal to companies thinking about investing in India".

The Confederation of Indian Industry warned on Thursday night that the bans would do great damage to India's image and credibility with international investors.

"We are a law-abiding country and government actions have to be driven by the rule of law and in the overall public interest," said R. Seshasayee, the confederation's CII president.

 

[Awesome]

I believe they are tests of toxicity levels not product taste quality.

Unless you're arguing Indians have a higher level of tolerance for toxic cola, then I believe the US tests should be fine.

The issue IS about trust. India has DNA testing centers it is surely capable of testing soda bottles.

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

B. Prabhakar, president of the Indo-US Chamber of Commerce, said the bans will "send the wrong signal to companies thinking about investing in India".

The Confederation of Indian Industry warned on Thursday night that the bans would do great damage to India's image and credibility with international investors.

I have never heard of a more sillier argument as these.

 

[Awesome]

It's not like coca cola isn't doing anything about it... so why ban? I can understand temporary removals but some states have imposed total ban!

Imagine banning coke and pepsi from India! He has a point it sends the wrong message!

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

Let it send any message to anyone. It makes no difference. They will still come. The market size is too lucrative.

Our health is more important to us.

You seem to be a great advocate for the Cola Kings.

Some interest?

 

[TexasJohn]

Let it send any message to anyone. It makes no difference. They will still come. The market size is too lucrative.

Our health is more important to us.

You seem to be a great advocate for the Cola Kings.

Some interest?

Here in the US I have noticed interest in Colas is slowly dwindling. Maybe with a burger @ lunch. Water and fruit juices are getting more popular!!

 

[Spring Onion]

We can expect low quality drinks prepared in local markets but when something with big brand names is becoming more dangerouse for the health its time to ban these.

 

[Spring Onion]

Sunita Narain ( Agencies) ​

'Govt seems to be under corporate pressure'

KUDRAT BHATIA
Q: Your latest sweep against the colas is like an 'I am back report' after 2003. Surely there must have been problems in the way...!

Sunita: There are always hurdles in anything you do. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) only wants to ensure that the government does not succumb to pressure - hurdle or no hurdle.

Q: Surely, it wasn't a coincidence that your report came out before the Supreme Court hearing on the Public Interest Litigation based on your 2003 pesticide report?

Sunita: This is nothing to do with the Supreme Court hearing. We did not even know about the Supreme Court hearing. We released the report on the eve of the anniversary of our last report. The idea was to release the report on the third anniversary of the first report.

Q : When did you last collect samples for testing the colas?

Sunita: The samples were collected in November 2005

Q: Was there a group assigned to collect the samples? Was it outsourced to some agency or was it the CSE team that collected the samples? Were they taken in the presence of independent, impartial witnesses?

Sunita: People who collected samples were journalists. They belong to the CSE. It was not one person but almost 50 people from CSE. They brought samples and gave receipts.

Q: Are you willing to place the samples for verification if a third party intends to take up the samples for another round of testing?

Sunita: We can place the samples for verification. We have no problem. But the samples will be too old for further tests.

Q: What is the cause of the presence of pesticide in the colas?

Sunita: Ground water may be the cause... I am not sure.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1886920.cms