On August 5, the Centre for Science and Environment, a non-governmental organisation, announced that tests on bottled soft drinks owned by cola giants, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, showed high level of pesticides. The CSE said it had analysed the contents of 12 brands of Coca-Cola and Pepsi sold in and around Delhi.

According to the tests conducted by the CSE's Pollution Monitoring Laboratory, all samples had residues of four extremely toxic pesticides and insecticides: lindane, DDT, Malathion, and chlorpyrifos.

The CSE said those pesticides could cause cancer, damage to the nervous and reproductive systems and severe disruption of the immune system.

Within hours of the CSE findings being publicized, Coke and Pepsi, in an unprecedented move, came together to refute the charges. The cola giants also released media advertisements disclaiming the findings.

But the damage had been done. Sales of soft drinks plunged by as much as 40 percent in India as consumers played it safe. Even Parliament banned serving soft drinks in its canteen.

On August 21, the central government said its tests found 12 drinks of Coke and Pepsi -- accounting for 90 percent of the 6.5 billion bottles Indians drink each year -- met Indian standards. But it admitted that nine of the 12 contained pesticide levels above European Union limits.

A day later, a Joint Parliamentary Committee was set up to investigate the issue. The JPC investigation continues; its report will be submitted next year.

Text: Priya Ganapati

Complete coverage: Soft drinks, hard truths