Probe pesticides in food chain: CSE

Basking in the joint parliamentary committee's (JPCs) report on the pesticides-in-cola controversy that confirmed the presence of pesticide residues in carbonated drinks, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) today urged the government to put in place a unified food law to regulate the quality of all categories of edible products and carry out a detailed probe of pesticide contamination in the entire food chain.

Taking a dig at the cola companies for their defiant stand even after the JPCs indictment, CSE chairman Sunita Narain said, "The response of both Pepsi and Coke suggests that consumers should believe their claims and that they do not want to be regulated. Their claims of being above board have failed every possible test in the country."

Addressing a press conference, Narain expressed satisfaction that the report tabled by the JPC was not influenced by cola companies' attempts to broaden the the regulatory framework for beverages by clubbing fruit juices, tea and coffee with carbonated drinks.

In its report, the JPC was also severe on the Union health ministry and said it was dismayed that whatever action had been taken by the concerned ministries was because of the findings of an nongovernmental organisation.

The ministry of health and family welfare which is the nodal ministry for laying down standards of safety for all food items suddenly came alive only after the CSE published its report.

Taking exception to issues raised by cola companies on the CSE being non-accredited for testing pesticide contamination Narain said that in such a scenario, even an institute like the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was not accredited.

"So would you deny all the test reports,?" she questioned.

Cola controversy

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• Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has urged the government to put in place a unified food law to regulate the quality of all categories of edible products and carry out a detailed probe of pesticide contamination in the entire food chain.
• Narain expressed satisfaction that the report tabled by the JPC was not influenced by cola companies' attempts to broaden the regulatory framework for beverages by clubbing fruit juices, tea and coffee with carbonated drinks
• In its report, the JPC was also severe on the Union health ministry and said it was dismayed that whatever action had been taken by the concerned ministries was because of the findings of an non-governmental organisation
• Narain took exception to issues raised by cola companies on the CSE being non-accredited for testing pesticide contamination