Kerala ban: Colas move HC

Pepsi and Coke claim their products are safe and no scientific studies have shown any harmful contents.

Pepsi and Coke, in separate petitions before the Kerala High Court, on Friday challenged the ban imposed by the state government on aerated drinks.

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Admitting the petitions, the court posted the matter for hearing on Monday.

The New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), an independent agency, said that its test showed very high quantities of pesticides in samples of 12 brands of soft drinks.

Following the report, a number of states imposed limited restrictions on the sales of aerated drinks.

The Kerala cabinet on August 9 decided to ban the manufacture and sales of the soft drinks in the state. The decision came into effect the next day.

In their petitions, the cola giants have pointed out that their products were safe and no scientific studies had shown any harmful contents.

The petitions stated that their products were being sold in other parts of the country, apart from several other countries. They also claimed that the state government had no right to ban these products.