Ban pesticolas, say Opposition MPs

NEW DELHI: Taking serious note of CSE findings, a strong demand for an immediate ban on Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola and nine other soft drinks was made in the Lok Sabha on Thursday with members alleging that consuming them was nothing short of slow poisoning.

The demand was made by BJP, Left, RJD and Samajwadi Party members during Zero Hour which saw Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi informing the House that a bill on food safety and standards already passed by Parliament is awaiting assent from the President.

He said government would issue notification in the matter after the assent.

As there was no assurance from the Government on banning soft drinks, the entire Opposition as also SP members staged a walkout.

Raising the issue, Ramji Lal Suman (SP) said the findings of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) were shocking as pesticide residues in soft drinks were 25 to 30 times higher than the approved limit.

BJP Deputy leader V K Malhotra and Prabhu Nath Singh (JD-U) targeted the Health Minister taking objection to the way he had reacted to the CSE findings.

Singh alleged the Health Minister and the Health Secretary have come under cloud following failure to act against multinationals maunfacturing soft drinks.