The Hindu Business Line : Cola cos must come clean, says CSE

Industry is agog with the buzz that the Cola companies have flown in spin-doctors to lobby their case with the Government. And in this foggy environment of selective information - the voice of sanity comes from the scientific community.

Nonplussed by the allegations flying thick and fast between the Cola corporates and the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) — analysts and scientists have asked the Cola companies to come clean "in simple words" on whether or not they contain pesticide. But the Government too has been urged not to react in a knee-jerk fashion and to instead look at the `big picture' in terms of food-safety in toto.

"It is a fact that ground water is polluted and other food products, such as milk and fruits are contaminated. But that does not absolve the companies of their responsibility. During the preparation of soft drinks, water gets concentrated and the level of pesticide increases. Companies have the wherewithal to use clean water in its manufacturing process. They have possibly not looked at it seriously in India, it is the callous indifference of the corporate sector," Dr Amit Sengupta of the Delhi Science Forum told Business Line.

On the parts per billion issue, which had been equated to looking for a needle in a haystack - he said: "Statistics can be used in anyway. There are laws to make a car seatbelt mandatory, even though the possibility of an accident as a result of not wearing it may be as remote as one in 10,000. Same is the case with crash-helmets, but that is no argument not to have the norms." Pesticide-residue notwithstanding, there may be several reasons not to have several sub-standard products in the marketplace. "But in India, life is cheap and there is a general apathy regarding health issues. Life is at risk for so many reasons, that one more doesn't move you."

An analyst tracking the food segment told Business Line: "To say that there was a 25 per cent dip in sales may be unfair. Soft drinks are consumed largely in an urban or semi-urban market. There will be a temporary dip, since the season for soft drinks is still on. However, public opinion does not wait for Q.E.D or till the independent authority comes out with its report. A company cannot hide behind the ground water issue, the onus is on you to put in good processes.

It is like a bad workman blaming his tools. If improving processes results in increased prices, that's ok, it is not a life-saving drug.

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