The legendry rivalry between Coca-Cola and PepsiCo is now taking a new twist. The two giants have found themselves on the same side in a die hard battle that can have a long influence on the cola industry. In India, there have been allegations against these two rivals that their products contain pesticide at a dangerous level. Now, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), an independent organization has published a study about this matter. You can download the report from its website. You can also read their press release. I am some quoting from the press release:
Highlights of the 2006 CSE study on pesticides in colas-II:
"A cocktail of 3-6 pesticides was present in all samples.
- Lindane (a confirmed carcinogen) levels were over 54 times above the BIS standard; in one Coca-Cola sample from Kolkata, it was 140 times higher.
- Chlorpyrifos (a known neurotoxin) levels were 47 times higher; a Coca-Cola sample from Mumbai had a 200 times higher level.
- Heptachlor, banned in India, was found in 71 per cent of the samples, at levels 4 times higher than BIS standards.
- Average amount of pesticide residues found in all the samples was 11.85 parts per billion (ppb) — 24 times higher than the BIS standards for total pesticides in soft drinks (0.5 ppb).
- Pepsi cola contained 30 times higher residues on an average.
- Coca-Cola contained 27 times higher residues on an average."
I am not an expert on this matter but I can easily understand that these are serious allegations. Well, we should try to hear the other side of the story. It seems that the matter is going to court. I am quoting from Times Online report:
"INDIA’S highest court yesterday demanded that Coca-Cola should reveal its secret formula for the first time in 120 years.
The Supreme Court ordered the US soft drinks maker, along with its rival PepsiCo, to supply details of the chemical composition and ingredients of their products after a study released this week claimed that they contained unacceptable levels of insecticides."
This is becoming a big controversy in India. Many people are angry with Coca-Cola and PepsiCo for providing allegedly 'substandard products' in the Indian market while others are arguing that in India many things are contaminated. AMJAD K. MARUF wrote in a blog:
"The CSE finding that Pepsi and Coca Cola contain pesticides is a matter of great concern and should be seriously dealt with by the Indian government. The Cola companies should be asked to take rectifying measures with immediate effect. But one should also know that the harmful pesticides found in these soft drinks have been sourced from underground water. Therefore blaming only the cola companies is not going to help."
I am sure that this is going be a big challenge for Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. So, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are in a nasty position. You know that they never reveal their secret to anyone. On the other hand, if Indian Supreme Court Sticks to its position then the matter may become very complicated. If the two companies are forced to reveal their formula in India then it may create the same kind of problem in some other countries too.
What is your idea about it?
Related Article
I think was Razib Ahmed wrote was very interesting. When I first read of the study of the Centre for Science and Environment (of 02 August 2006), I was shocked. I wanted to know if it is true what Vijay Kumar Malhotra said “These companies are playing with the lives of millions and we can’t ignore such warnings any more, and we can't ignore such warnings any more. It is time to ban them.” http://www.ft.com/cms/s/72b72162-241f-11db-ae89-0000779e2340.html
And I wanted to know why the political reaction was so strong and fast.
So I did some research on the net, and was I found was closer to what the Financial Times wrote at the end of their article of 07 August 2006:
“Almost any product in India, from tap water to milk, contains traces of toxins due to overuse of pesticides by farmers. This seeps into local ground water, which is used in more than 80 per cent of soft drinks.” http://www.ft.com/cms/s/72b72162-241f-11db-ae89-0000779e2340.html
There are two studies of Government research institutions (the Central Food technology Research Institute http://www.cftri.com/ and the Central Food Laboratory http://mohfw.nic.in/kk/95/ia/95ia0201.htm) of 2004 that are quoted by an ad of Pepsi, which gave one simple message:
1) Trusted Laboratories (under democratic control, other than the CSE) have proved two years ago, that the pesticide residues in Pepsi brand beverages are way lower than limits set by the Health Ministry
2) The Tolerance of government standarts for comparable products like tea are 28000 times higher!
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c.php?leftnm=11&bKeyFlag=IN&autono=3976
When you see at the same time how angry and loud some politicians and the CSE are screaming at the “evil US-corporates” Pepsi and Coca Cola, I think the basic conclusions to be drawn are:
1) Yes there are pesticides in all our products and the drinking water in India, which should worry us
2) Yes the government limits for pesticide residues in our products are way to low (and haven’t developed much in the last years since the last scandal)
3) Blaming Pepsi and Coca Cola is an anti-western populist agenda that has nothing to do with the problem. Even the study of CSE does no comparison to our traditional drinks as Tea (because normal Water in Tea or Coffee is less filtered than the one in Pepsi!)
4) There should be a new independent study that compares comparable products!
5) It seems to me way safer to drink Pepsi than to get a tea in India
I am happy for any comments and conclusions of other people who did deeper research in the topic!
Best wishes,
Prasanna
Posted by: Prasanna | August 7, 2006 11:26 PM | Permalink to Comment