Bottled Death: Pesticides in Colas

It’s been three years since August 2003 when the news of ‘pesticised colas’ hit the market first. Ever since then the condition has further worsened, confirmed the test conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

The 2006 report confirms the presence of pesticides in all 11 Coca Cola and Pepsi brands tested with samples taken from 25 different bottling plants across 12 states in the country. The results were alarming, five pesticides were found in cola samples as compared to four in 2003. A concoction of 3-5 different pesticides (lindane, chlorpyrifos, heptachlor, malathion and DDT) were found in all the 11 Coca-Cola and Pepsi brands tested.

The sample results are alarming and indicate the risk we sip in with every cola bottle .The sample (Coca Cola) collected from Kolkatta exceeded the BIS standards by 140 times for Lindane whereas the sample collected from Thane tested positive for Neuro-toxin Chloropyrifos 200 times the standard norm. On an average, 11.85 parts per billion (ppb) of pesticide residue was found in the entire sample as against the BIS standards of 0.5 ppb.

Unfortunately, the presence of these pesticides is known to cause serious physical disorders and cancer. For instance, Lindane, a confirmed cancer causing chemical- found in all samples is reported to be 54 times higher than the set standards of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

In 2003 where questions were raised on the authenticity of the testing facilities, this time a more reliable technology, the GS-MS equipment was used to test these brands. As per the study, on an average Pepsi has shown a 30 times higher pesticide residue as compared to 27 times in Coca-Cola.

Clearing their position, the soft drink companies, under the shield of Soft Drink Manufacturers’ Association (ISDMA), said soft drinks in India complied with stringent international norms and all applicable national regulations. “We understand that the Ministry of Health is in the process of developing validated testing protocols to which all members of ISDMA are fully aligned and co-operating in the process,” the body said in a statement.

CSE’s Director Sunita Narain said, “Soft drinks remain unhealthy and unsafe. Our health is nobody’s business, it seems.”

The bitter truth is that the fizz in the bottle will take out the fizz of life, slowly but surely.