Coke and Pepsi sold in India found to have a "cocktail of 3-5 different pesticides"

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The Centre for Science and Environment on Wednesday came out with a fresh study claiming the presence of 'pesticide cocktail' in 11 brands of soft drink giants Coca Cola and PepsiCo, three years after the same brands were found to have contained pesticides.

The new findings, publicised after testing 57 samples of 11 soft drink brands of Coca Cola and PepsiCo collected from 25 manufacturing units across 12 states, claims that all the bottles examined were a "cocktail of 3-5 different pesticides" which was 24 times above the standards finalised by Bureau of Indian Standards.

"We have found pesticide residue in all soft drinks tested. Three years ago, when the tests were conducted we could spot only four pesticides. This time it has increased to five in some cases," Sunita Narain, director, CSE said.

[...]

It also found the presence of Lindane (a carcinogen), Chlorphyrifis (a neurotoxin), Heptachlor, Mealthion and HCH. Heptachlor, banned in India, was found in 71 per cent of the samples, at four times higher than BIS standards.

On an average, the levels of deadly Lindane were over 54 times above the approved standards while one Coca Cola sample from Kolkata had this pesticide 140 times. Chlorpyrifos levels were on an average 47 times higher and a Coca Cola sample from Thane tested for this particular pesticide at a level that is 200 times than the approved levels.

"This is clearly unacceptable as we know that pesticides are tiny toxins and impact our bodies over time. Our soft drinks remain unsafe and unhealthy and public health remains severly compromised," said Narain.

http://in.rediff.com/money/2006/aug/02cola.htm

[chri'stina 190]

I drank coke and pepsi when I was in India...

pesticides, yum.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

At least the soda will be bug-free.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

At least the soda will be bug-free.

haha....

[samir_shannon 0]

Damn!!! i love coke

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I drank coke and pepsi when I was in India...

pesticides, yum.

Indians always say.. in India, stick to beer.

Damn!!! i love coke

As long as you don't drink any coke bottled in India, you should be ok.

[samir_shannon 0]

I drank coke and pepsi when I was in India...

pesticides, yum.

Indians always say.. in India, stick to beer.

Damn!!! i love coke

As long as you don't drink any coke bottled in India, you should be ok.

well to be hoest i am trying to stay away from all of it. i drink alot of sweet tea now. not as much sugar.

[UmmSqueakster 54]

I wonder if they'd find similar "ingredients" if they tested soda products in other 3rd world countries. Ugh, next time I go anywhere, I'm going to have to import my own bottled water.

[chri'stina 190]

I drank coke and pepsi when I was in India...

pesticides, yum.

Indians always say.. in India, stick to beer.

Never heard that one...but I'm never around other Indians anyway. What about Indians that don't drink beer?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I wonder if they'd find similar "ingredients" if they tested soda products in other 3rd world countries. Ugh, next time I go anywhere, I'm going to have to import my own bottled water.

[Ban Hammer 13,676]

it's the real thing

[incanada1234 0]

I'd probably still drink it.

[Sister Fracas 5]

At least the soda will be bug-free.

haha....

tee hee

*crosses pop off vacation drinking list*

[chri'stina 190]

I'd probably still drink it.

I'm hesitant to say, me too... I have the sometimes dangerous attitude of "if it didn't make me sick last time, then...?" though I know it's not good. I didn't get sick at all while in India.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

In all seriousness, stick to purified water in India. Get brandname bottled water and then purify it yourself using a water filtration system you can get from someplace like Eastern Mountain Sports.