China has conducted thorough tests on soft drinks in the local market following reports of alleged contamination of colas in India and assured concerned public that they are 'safe' for consumption.
The State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine conducted a three-day-inspection on soft drinks including Coca-cola, Pepsi-cola, 7-up, Sprite, Mirinda and Fanta, and did not find the suspected pesticides, the state-run China Central Television reported.
China has not imported soft drinks from India this year. Last year, China imported four batches of soft drinks, which all met Chinese food safety standards, it said.
The government conducted a check on soft drinks after seeing reports that colas in India reportedly contained cancer causing pesticides, the public broadcaster said, adding that it had raised panic among consumers in China.
In Beijing, the government has denied that China imports any of these drinks from India.
None was made by Pepsi and Coca-Cola factories in India. But just to be safe, administration has decided to conduct a national spot check of all drinks in the Chinese market, the report said.
"We have notified the customs inspection and quarantine administration, and asked them to strengthen inspection on soft drinks imported from India. That should ensure safety of these imported drinks", deputy director of the Import & Export Food Safety, Li Chunfeng said.
{{/usCountry}}"We have notified the customs inspection and quarantine administration, and asked them to strengthen inspection on soft drinks imported from India. That should ensure safety of these imported drinks", deputy director of the Import & Export Food Safety, Li Chunfeng said.
{{/usCountry}}The administration also says the cancer-causing Indian drinks are possibly made from contaminated materials.
Coca-Cola China has confirmed that all its products sold in China are all locally made, from materials to packaging, the report said.