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New Delhi accuses Pepsi and Coke of selling toxic cola
The Guardian via SMH ^ | February 6, 2004

Posted on 02/05/2004 9:21:04 AM PST by dead

Coca-Cola and PepsiCo sold soft drinks containing pesticides harmful to human health and misled India's one billion people over claims that their products were safe for human consumption, according to an Indian parliamentary report.

An estimated seven bottles of cold drinks per person are sold in India each year. Coca-Cola and PepsiCo account for more than 80 per cent of the $A2.1 billion market.

A Delhi-based environmental group, the Centre for Science and Environment, last year claimed that soft drink products manufactured in India contained toxins far above the levels permitted in the developed world.

Tests conducted by the group showed Pepsi's soft drinks had 36 times the level of pesticide residues permitted under European Union regulations. Coca-Cola's soft drinks had 30 times the legal level.

The tests found toxins, including lindane and DDT, in 12 different soft drinks. If ingested over long periods, the chemicals could lead to cancer and immune system failure. Similar tests on colas sold in the US found no such toxins.

The joint committee's report, released on Wednesday, recommended stringent new regulations to eradicate all pesticide residues from fizzy drinks.

It said that test results from five laboratories found similar toxin levels in Indian colas.

"We did not find exactly the same level of pesticides or the same quantities but this was because they were not exactly the same samples," said an MP, Sanjay Nirupam. "The batches were different, the manufacturing was different. But all contained pesticides."

Coca-Cola and PepsiCo said they were reviewing the report.

The US companies were also attacked over the running of two bottling plants in the southern state of Kerala. The report said the plants had caused water pollution, the depletion of ground water, reduced crop yield, skin disorders and other ailments.

Both companies said they had recharged local aquifers with the same amount of water used. But the report says their efforts were not "commensurate enough".


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: colawars
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1 posted on 02/05/2004 9:21:06 AM PST by dead
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To: dead
ToxiCola hits the spot,
Esophagus begins to rot,
Pesticide is why we say,
Drink some ToxiCoke today.
2 posted on 02/05/2004 9:25:14 AM PST by gcruse (http://gcruse.typepad.com/)
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To: dead
Could it be that it was bottled with India's water? Nah, couldn't be, otherwise the same group would have found problems with India's water supply long ago.
3 posted on 02/05/2004 9:27:19 AM PST by kenth (This is not a tagline. You, sir, are hallucinating.)
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To: dead
It said that test results from five laboratories found similar toxin levels in Indian colas.

Sounds like their water supply is screwed up. So, why single out Pepsi and Coca-Cola? Mmmmm...my, what deep pockets you have, grandma.

4 posted on 02/05/2004 9:27:27 AM PST by prion
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To: gcruse
Nicely done! You should run their Indian ad campaign!
5 posted on 02/05/2004 9:27:55 AM PST by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: dead
Ever since the Bhopal thing, India isn't as trusting as it used to be.
6 posted on 02/05/2004 9:34:33 AM PST by Richard Kimball
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To: dead
Tests conducted by the group showed Pepsi's soft drinks had 36 times the level of pesticide residues permitted under European Union regulations. Coca-Cola's soft drinks had 30 times the legal level.

"Drink Coke - 20% less pesticides then Pepsi!"

Seriously, testing Indian Pepsi against Norwegian Pepsi is simply testing the water quality of the respective sources. They ought to test it against locally-produced soft drinks and beer, but I'd guess that wouldn't be as inflammatory.

7 posted on 02/05/2004 9:35:21 AM PST by Billthedrill
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To: Billthedrill
Same Asian protectionism, different country. But,, but, I thought India was part of the Kyoto green revolution???
8 posted on 02/05/2004 9:40:01 AM PST by Righty1 (N)
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To: dead
This from people who swim in the Ganges?
9 posted on 02/05/2004 9:45:25 AM PST by Blue Screen of Death (,/i)
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To: gcruse
Why don't they call it, "Bhopal-Cola?"
10 posted on 02/05/2004 9:47:03 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: dead
Define toxic.

I've used Coca Cola for years for removing rust on old (small) motorcycle parts.

24 hours in a bucket of Coke and you can flake the rust off with your fingertips.

I'll never drink the stuff though....
11 posted on 02/05/2004 9:48:56 AM PST by taxed2death (A few billion here, a few trillion there...we're all friends right?)
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To: dfwgator
What's really happening here is that we're outsourcing our looneygation.
12 posted on 02/05/2004 9:55:02 AM PST by gcruse (http://gcruse.typepad.com/)
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To: gcruse
Excellent. :D
13 posted on 02/05/2004 9:55:38 AM PST by hellinahandcart
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To: taxed2death
Define toxic.
I've used Coca Cola for years for removing rust on old (small) motorcycle parts.
24 hours in a bucket of Coke and you can flake the rust off with your fingertips.
I'll never drink the stuff though....

Yup, and stay away from Lemonade for the same reason. That nasty citric acid.

14 posted on 02/05/2004 10:03:23 AM PST by Yo-Yo
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To: dead
But of course the practice of drinking cow and human urine is totally acceptable in India...

Piss Cola...like mountain due, it goes in one color and comes out the same color...
15 posted on 02/05/2004 10:09:57 AM PST by MD_Willington_1976
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To: MD_Willington_1976
But of course the practice of drinking cow and human urine is totally acceptable in India...

Do you have a citation for this claim? I haven't heard this one before.

16 posted on 02/05/2004 10:15:52 AM PST by Doctor Stochastic (Vegetabilisch = chaotisch is der Charakter der Modernen. - Friedrich Schlegel)
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To: Doctor Stochastic
http://www.dalitstan.org/journal/brahman/bra001/brah0112.html
http://www.wonder-cures.com/cow'surine.htm
17 posted on 02/05/2004 10:24:10 AM PST by MD_Willington_1976
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To: MD_Willington_1976
Doesn't seem to be totally acceptable. Of course, there are evidences that some people do this, but it doesn't seem to be a cultural practice.

404 on the other link.
18 posted on 02/05/2004 10:28:41 AM PST by Doctor Stochastic (Vegetabilisch = chaotisch is der Charakter der Modernen. - Friedrich Schlegel)
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To: gcruse
ToxiCola hits the spot,

Esophagus begins to rot,

Pesticide is why we say,

Drink some ToxiCoke today.

LOL! Very good! :)

19 posted on 02/05/2004 10:32:48 AM PST by NRA2BFree (http://www.angelfire.com/nm2/chainreaction/ValentinesDay.html)
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To: Doctor Stochastic
Well the 5 engineering interns here from India say that this sort of thing goes on back home...
20 posted on 02/05/2004 1:42:33 PM PST by MD_Willington_1976
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