Pesticides in soft drinks harmful: CSE to JPC

The director of the Centre for Science and Environment, Sunita Narayan on Friday told the joint parliamentary committee probing the cola row that pesticide level in water for soft drinks in India was high and could have adverse effects on human beings.

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However, committee chairman Sharad Pawar said there was a need to check the veracity of the findings of CSE.

"We have to see whether the recent findings of the CSE regarding pesticide levels (in soft drinks) are correct or not," Pawar told reporters after a two and a half hour meeting of the JPC on pesticide residues in soft drinks and other water-based products.

Pawar did not rule out the possibility of asking officials of soft drink multinationals -- Coca-Cola and Pepsico -- to depose before the JPC, and added, "JPC had no hesitation in meeting them."

He said it was possible that the delegation of trade chambers -- Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Confederation of Indian Industry -- which will also be called for the hearing will consist of representatives from the soft drinks industry.

Pawar said the CSE director told the JPC that there is a need to have stringent policy for safe use of pesticides in India as they presented a strong hazard for human beings.

She said the use of water in bottled water as well as soft drinks was not regulated and the CSE desired that standards for food items in regard to residue pesticides should be below allowable daily intake.

Pawar, however, said the presentation given by the CSE was "impressive" and it was "pragmatic" for fruit juice and other agricultural products.