Coca-Cola and Pepsi face ban in Indian states
{{date|August 9, 2006}}
[[Image:Coke.jpg|right|thumb|The popular Coca-Cola drink is now banned in Kerala]]

The government of [[w:Kerala|Kerala]], a state in southern [[w:India|India]], has banned the production and sale of both [[w:Coca-Cola|Coca-Cola]] and [[w:Pepsi|Pepsi]] after the [[w:Centre for Science and Environment|Centre for Science and Environment]], a [[w:Non-governmental organization|NGO]], found high levels of [[w:pesticide residue|pesticide residue]] in the popular [[w:soft drink|soft drink]]s. 

Kerala is the first state to impose a complete ban on the production and sale of the drinks, but five other states have said they will introduce partial bans in hospitals, schools and colleges. 

Chief minister [[w:V. S. Achuthanandan|V. S. Achuthanandan]], [[w:Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPI(M)]], said the two companies had been asked to wind up their operations, meaning the closure of a Pepsi and a Coca-Cola plant in the state.

The Indian Soft Drinks Manufacturers Association issued a statement saying: "Our products manufactured in India are absolutely safe and meet every safety standard set by food health and regulatory bodies in India and all over the world."

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://autofeed.msn.co.in/pandorav3/output/News/53a3285a-8106-4c3f-9e76-a5081c8762b8.asp
|title=Coke, Pepsi banned in Kerala
|author=
|pub=MSN India
|date=August 9, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4776623.stm?ls
|title=Indian state bans Pepsi and Coke 
|author=Sanjoy Majumder
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=August 9, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://news.monstersandcritics.com/india/article_1188560.php/Four_more_Indian_states_ban_colas|title=Four more Indian states ban colas|author=|pub=Monsters and Critics|date=August 9, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/english/world/article1415581.ece|title=Coke and Pepsi banned|author=The Associated Press|pub=Aftenposten|date=August 9, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.coca-colaindia.com/media/View_News_Release.asp?ReleaseId=168|title=Soft Drinks are Completely Safe|author=Press release|pub=coca-colaindia.com|date=August 5, 2006}}

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[[Category:India]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Health]]
[[Category:Economy and business]]
[[Category:PepsiCo]]
[[Category:Coca-Cola]]

[[de:Indischer Bundesstaat untersagt Produktion und Verkauf von Coca-Cola und Pepsi]]
[[fr:Interdiction de Coca-Cola et Pepsi dans un État indien]]
The popular Coca-Cola drink is now banned in Kerala

The government of Kerala, a state in southern India, has banned the production and sale of both Coca-Cola and Pepsi after the Centre for Science and Environment, a NGO, found high levels of pesticide residue in the popular soft drinks. 

Kerala is the first state to impose a complete ban on the production and sale of the drinks, but five other states have said they will introduce partial bans in hospitals, schools and colleges. 

Chief minister V. S. Achuthanandan, CPI(M), said the two companies had been asked to wind up their operations, meaning the closure of a Pepsi and a Coca-Cola plant in the state.

The Indian Soft Drinks Manufacturers Association issued a statement saying: "Our products manufactured in India are absolutely safe and meet every safety standard set by food health and regulatory bodies in India and all over the world."
India Asia Politics and conflicts Health Economy and business PepsiCo Coca-Cola