Guest guest Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 Cold drinks destroyed "Joy further informed that until state or Central Government authorities issue 'no objection' statement regarding safety standard of the beverages five brands of Coca cola and six Pepsi brands would be banned for sale or consumption in Manipur." Source: The Sangai Express Imphal, Aug 19: Taking critical note of the clarification statement made by Coca Cola representative Meenakshi Sharma yesterday, members of Federation of Regional Indigenous Societies (FREINDS) contended that the remarks are akin to taking Manipuris for granted. Briefing reporters at its Keisampat office today, secretary general of FREINDS Joy Chingakham asserted that no company (Coca Cola) officials had so far rejected or clarified report of Centre for Science and Environment that soft/cold drinks manufactured by the beverages giant contains pesticide residue between 8 to 11 percent. The fact that Quality Assurance Manager (North East) of Hindustan Coca cola Beverages Private Limited Meenakshi had chosen Imphal to claim purity of the company's products clearly illustrates that the company's NE-based unit is not only presuming the region's people to be naive but is taking the common consumers for a ride, contended the FREINDS leader. Joy further informed that until state or Central Government authorities issue 'no objection' statement regarding safety standard of the beverages five brands of Coca cola and six Pepsi brands would be banned for sale or consumption in Manipur. He also expressed strong resentment that contrary to other States collecting beverages samples for testing, Manipur Government is sitting idle on the matter. The fact that even the State-run Food Testing Laboratory had been shut down is a great cause for concern, he opined while alleging that financial assistance in terms of crores extended to the State Government in 1994 by Union Health Ministry under the World Bank's initiatives to set up capacity Building Project had been misused. The secretary general also recalled of State's only Food Testing Laboratory established at DM college campus in 1989 left to ruin since it was shifted to a location near MACS office. Demanding that State's Health Minister make a statement on the issue considering the fact that pesticide contents in the soft/cold drinks could cause health hazards, Joy further asked the Government to reactivate the food testing laboratory without further delay. http://www.e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=10..200806.aug06 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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