Taken by surprise, Coke clarifies its products are completely safe

Taken by surprise over the Karnataka Government’s decision to move the court over pesticide findings in its products, Coca Cola has clarified that all its soft drink products are completely safe.

In a press statement, Coca Cola claimed that the company monitors the quality and safety of its products and the samples are tested in reputed and international laboratories. “The samples drawn as recently as on August 3, 2006, from Karnataka have been tested at Vimta Labs, Hyderabad. The laboratory has not detected any pesticide residues in them”, a company press statement said.

Coca Cola has expressed surprise over Karnataka Government’s recent decision to file a case against the company after laboratory tests conducted at a private laboratory, where pesticides were reportedly found to be higher than the permissible levels. “As things stand, Coca Cola has no knowledge of such tests nor has the company received any communication from Karnataka State Health Ministry”, the statement said.

Meanwhile, Pepsico India too has sought to counter the tough measures taken by the Karnataka Government by claiming that its products comply with the most stringent regulations.

Pepsico India’s Chairman Rajeev Bakshi met reporters in Bangalore and said Pepsi’s products comply with the most stringent Indian and international regulations, including the one stipulated by the Federal Ministry for Health in India during June 2004.

Notwithstanding the clarifications issued by the multinational cola manufacturers, the Karnataka Government, which has already prohibited the sale of soft drinks in educational institutions, hospitals and government offices extended to ban to all the 2,000 odd Temples in the State governed by the Religious Endowment Department.

Commissioner for Religious Endowments in Karnataka T Sham Bhat told reporters that the Government had banned sale of the 13 carbonated drinks including Pepsi and Coca Cola in shops and establishments located within a radius of 100 feet from the Temples.