INDIA: Kerala throws out Coca-Cola and Pepsi

The India Resource Center reported on August 9 that the state government of Kerala, in southern India, has halted the production and sale of Coca-Cola and Pepsi. The community of Plachimada waged a four-year campaign against the soft-drink giant because of falling water levels and pollution of the groundwater and soil allegedly caused by Coca-Cola company's bottling operations in the area. A study by India's Centre for Science and Environment found a "cocktail of between three to five different pesticides in all samples" of Coca-Cola and Pepsi products they tested in India. On average, the pesticide residues were 24 times higher than European Union standards. Coca-Cola and Pepsi have been banned in government and educational institutions by many states in India, including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Delhi. For more information, visit <http://www.indiaresource.org>.

From GLW issue 679