The Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to the Centre and some of its departments on a petition seeking laying down of norms and standards for use of various pesticides and insecticides in beverages.
While seeking their replies, a Bench comprising Justice KG Balakrishnan and Justice DK Jain tagged the petition filed by a social worker, Tejinder Singh Brar with the pending PIL, in which a direction has been sought for disclosing the chemical contents of the soft drinks on the bottles.
Brar, in his PIL through senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, sought placing the scientific data regarding harmful and hazardous substance in processed food and beverages.
The social activist contended that the Government and ministries concerned have failed to address the problems of harmful substances hazardous to human health in processed food products available in the market.
His counsel submitted that since laying down of regulations and good agriculture practices would take time, the Government should ensure that products should reach the consumer with labels mentioning the presence of harmful substances.
Kumar said since the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, which regulates the food safety and related issues, did not speak about the parameters for the processed food, people are being misled and whatever information they get comes through the media.
{{/usCountry}}Kumar said since the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, which regulates the food safety and related issues, did not speak about the parameters for the processed food, people are being misled and whatever information they get comes through the media.
{{/usCountry}}The consumers must be supplied with the information regarding the contents of the products, he said.