National   

'No pesticide content in soft drinks before CSE expose'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI OCT. 21. In a new twist to the controversy over the presence of pesticide residues in soft drinks, the CSIR's Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore, and the Union Health Ministry's Central Food Laboratory, Kolkata, have reported that the tests conducted by them on soft drink samples prior to the expose by the Centre for Science and Environment had not revealed any pesticide content.

In separate presentations made before the Joint Parliamentary Committee looking into the issue, the two institutions said they had been conducting routine tests of soft drinks samples collected from their neighbourhood and during the tests conducted before August, when the CSE came out with its report, no pesticide was ever found.

But, at the same time, they affirmed that the tests conducted on samples collected by the Directorate General of Health Services from Jaipur and Hapur on the outskirts of Delhi, and sent to them for analysis after the CSE released its report, did contain pesticide residues.

Giving details of the CFTRI and CFL's presentations, the JPC Chairman, Sharad Pawar, said that the differences in the findings would be looked into later. The panel would hear anyone who wanted to make representations and would come to a conclusion only after that.

Three scientists have been made associate members of the panel and all documents and presentations would be given to them for their technical opinion.

He said representatives of Pepsi and Coca Cola were welcome to appear before the panel and present their views. But, so far there has been no request from them in this regard. He said that the panel would invite the CSE again for clarifications on various questions that had so far arisen and that were likely to arise as the panel continued with its hearings. The aim of the panel was to complete its work by December, he added.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Chinese Minister coming today for border talks
• We must show our capabilities: Kasturirangan
• 'India should have 35 million more women'
• Cong. reacts sharply to BJP's remark against Sonia
• JPC on soft drinks to visit Plachimada in December
• 'No pesticide content in soft drinks before CSE expose'
• VHP rules out `any compromise' on Ram temple
• 2001 census to be basis for delimitation exercise
• 'India, Brazil, South Africa natural candidates for Security Council seat'
• Correction
• Panel for persons with disabilities notified
• Sonia's foreign origin a `non-issue'
• 'India committed to Kyoto Protocol'
• Panels to explore solution to Ayodhya issue
• Ready to meet LTTE's challenge if need be: Fernando
• Companies Bill returned
• Pak. team visits Baglihar Dam
• Private domestic carriers hail move
• Private Indian airlines to be allowed to fly to Colombo

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu