The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Test results on soft drinks to be out in three weeks

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 20, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Test results on soft drinks to be out in three weeks

Staff Reporter

Samples being collected to check safety standards through a scientific analysis

HYDERABAD: The results on the safety standards of soft drinks like Coca Cola and Pepsi to be examined through a scientific analysis are expected to be out in less than three weeks.

The Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) here embarked upon collection of samples of all soft drinks from across the State for analysis following a Government Order issued on August 9.

Collecting samples

IPM Director P. Sucharita Murthy said the institute was collecting samples from around seven manufacturing and bottling units of different soft drink companies in the State. The samples would be sent to the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore for analysis after which action would be taken based on the lab results. "It will take at least two weeks for the results to come," she said.

The Government action follows an order issued by the State Human Rights Commission, which took suo motu cognizance of media reports and an application submitted by the Jana Vignana Vedika, following the Centre for Science and Environment's statement that its analysis of samples of Pepsi and Coca Cola had revealed that the companies were not adhering to prescribed safety standards.

Lab reports

The Government had directed the Civil Supplies and Health, Medical and Family Welfare departments to immediately take action, apart from asking IPM to collect "random samples of all brands" and send them for analysis.

The IPM Director was to take further action under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act based on the lab reports.

Meanwhile, Government hospitals and educational institutions have already clamped a ban on the sale of Coca Cola and Pepsi on their premises. Superintendents of all major Government hospitals in the State capital, including Osmania General Hospital and Gandhi Hospital, have issued circulars to canteens and all departments following the Government Order.

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