Coca-Cola slams CSE findings

Claiming no adverse impact on its sales in UP in the wake of pesticides controversy, the Coca Cola India, has hit back at Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

The cola company claimed that neither their tests conformed to international standards nor its laboratory was accredited by the National Accreditation Board of Laboratories (NABL).

Coca Cola also claimed that the company was yet to be officially informed by the Kerala government about its announcement to ban the cola soft drinks in the state.

Vice president (technical) of Coca Cola India Asim Parekh, said "Our soft drinks have been regularly tested and evaluated by a world renowned British government laboratory, the Central Science Laboratories (CSL) and they have found nothing wrong,'' adding that ''The tests show our soft drinks are below the EU criteria for pesticide residue in bottled water.''

Talking to reporters here, Parekh said CSL has a good reputation and it can be termed as more efficient than the country's Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS).

He said, "we have the same uncompromising commitment to product safety and quality in our beverages in India that we offer around the world.