Madhya Pradesh, Kerala ban sale of Coke and Pepsi

BHOPAL/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: MP and Kerala have decided to ban the sale of Cola in the wake of reports of high pesticide levels in the drinks.

Madhya Pradesh government on Sunday decided to ban sale of Pepsi and Coca Cola in its offices and educational institutions and a similar action was recommended by Kerala's ruling Left Front to the state government in the wake of reports of high pesticide levels in the soft drinks.

"We will ban sale of colas in canteens at government offices and educational institutes," Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told reporters adding on this will be issued soon, he said.

Last week the government had banned sale of Pepsi and Cola in the state Assembly canteen.

The Liaison Committee of the ruling Left Democratic Front in Kerala, at its meeting here today, recommended the state government ban the sale of soft drinks Coca Cola and Pepsi.

The meeting, which took the decision, was presided over by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan and leaders of all constituent parties in the ruling coalition.

Madhya Pradesh and Kerala join Rajasthan and Punjab in announcing ban on the products of two soft drink majors.

The ban follows a report by NGO, Centre for Science and Environment report about presence of high level of pesticide in the beverages like Pepsico and Coca Cola.

In Varanasi, at least six schools and colleges clamped the ban on sale of soft drinks inside their premises.