M A I N   N E W S

Chhattisgarh bans Coke, Pepsi

Raipur, August 7
The Chhattisgarh Government today banned use of soft drinks in all government organisations of the state, including schools, colleges and state secretariat. Looking into the current report of high content of pesticides in cold drinks, the state government decided to ban use of Coca Cola and Pepsi in all government organisations, Health Minister Krishna Murti Bandhi said here.

The decision was taken after the report said the cold drinks were carrying pesticides, which were not good for the health of the users, Bandhi said after having discussions with Chief Minister Raman Singh on the matter.

Because of the ban, selling of Coca Cola and Pepsi would be stopped in all government schools and colleges, government offices, including state Secretariat, he said.

Even serving of Coca Cola and Pepsi was banned at government functions, Bandhi said.

The state government had also taken decision to collect sample of other cold drinks to confirm whether they were safe for human consumption or not, he added.

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to direct the government educational institutions not to allow the sale of soft drinks in their premises. Finance and Health Minister K Rosaiah, who discussed the issue regarding the levels of pesticides residues in soft drinks with the officials concerned, had directed them to collect random samples in all 23 districts in the state and send them to the Central Food Technology and Research Laboratory, Mysore, for analysing the quantum of pesticides, the release added. — PTI, UNI