India has been in an uproar for two weeks over whether it's safe to drink Coke and Pepsi. A report by the respected Center for Science and Environment found unsafe levels of pesticides in both drinks, causing Parliament to ban the colas in its cafeteria and protesters to symbolically smash Coke and Pepsi bottles in nationwide demonstrations. Sales declined 10 to 75 percent in various parts of the country. The government then conducted its own tests, after which the Minister of Health and Family Welfare announced that the pesticide levels were safe according to the standards of India. Especially disturbed were tourists who, having been warned not to drink the water, had been drinking the Cokes.
September 6, 2003 6:18 AM
