Soft-drink makers Coca-Cola and Pepsi, among others, could face yet another legal battle in India if a study of their beverages reveals they contain any harmful substances.
In July, the Supreme Court asked the Indian Council of Medical Research to study carbonated soft drinks to determine their impact on health. If any harmful substances are found, the results are to be submitted to the government and the court. The researchers have been given six months to conduct the survey.
Soft-drinks companies will not have to reveal the ingredients of their drinks, the court instructed, given that many regard such information as trade secrets.
Prashant Bhushan, lawyer for the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), a non-government body, told Sify.com: “Phosphoric acid mixed in drinks to give a kick to consumers is harmful to human beings.”
Bhushan said the government should pass a stringent law to curb excessive advertising attracting young people to such soft drinks.
In response, Coca-Cola’s lawyer Harish Salve argued that CPIL’s agenda was to target multinational soft-drink manufacturers. He questioned why the CPIL had not taken such action against the manufacturers of tobacco or alcohol, which he said are more dangerous to health.
