Coca Cola and PepsiCo Problems in India
Al-Jazeera’s English Language website has an article reporting that the Indian State of Kerala has (along with several others) banned the sale of Coca Cola and Pepsi products, claiming that they have been found to contain pesticide residues “24 times above the limits set by the Indian Government.” The article is time-stamped Wednesday 09 August 2006, 14:51 Makka Time, 11:51 GMT.
Interestingly, Wikipedia has an article indicating that the New Delhi-based NGO Centre for Sciend and Environment had convinced the government to take this action after well-publicized studies dating back to 2003. The Wiki-links for the Kerala ban are to articles from this week, but the Coca Cola response to which the article links via footnotes, indicates the controversy has been out in the open since August of 2003.
(Wikipedia article at :en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca-Cola)
Evidently, both PepsiCo and Coca Cola prepare the contents and bottle the drinks locally. These two companies probably apply the most stringent standards to their processes and products. Although lapses are possible it’s hard to imagine them consciously applying a different set of standards to their product from country to country. It is especially hard to swallow the idea that PepsiCo and Coca Cola would be using standards less stringent than those of other manufacturers operating within India.
Studies of other locally-produced Indian soft drinks suggest that the problem is pervasive in the region. Rediff.com, an Indian business-website, has an article on the cola controversy, and pointed out that “Mirinda Lemon [my italics] topped the chart among all the tested brand samples with a total pesticide concentration of 0.0352 mg/l.” and finished its article on the problem saying “...in India, these companies cannot be taken to court since the norms that regulate manufacturing of cold drinks here are a "meaningless maze."
Living in the U.S. I have always regarded Coca Cola and Pepsi as products whose manufacturing standards could always be trusted, without having to depend on Government regulations. (That’s distinct from the question of whether drinking gallons of carbonated caffeinated drinks is healthy...) It disturbs me to think that either of those companies would apply less stringent standards to their products in one region for any reason. From their own logic, to do so raises questions about their products everywhere.
Al-Jazeera’s two linked articles fail to mention that a number of other Indian-produced soft drinks were tested and found to have contaminant levels far higher than those in Coca Cola and Pepsi products.
Finally, it is a very sad thing to me to find that in comparison to the writings of U.S. reporters, the articles in Al-Jazeera seem to be mostly devoid of hysterical anti-U.S. ranting. I am perfectly aware that their point of view is at odds with the policies and culture of the United States. They seem to be observing a standard of dry factual reporting of events without coloring every paragraph with their sneering contempt for the U.S. its products, and its current administration, which seems to distinguish them from most Western news organizations. They have their biases, and my own bitty research reminds me that they will omit facts that are inconvenient to their "narrative" but a lot of American journalists fall short of the professional standards demonstrated by many of Al-Jazeera's posts.
Interestingly, Wikipedia has an article indicating that the New Delhi-based NGO Centre for Sciend and Environment had convinced the government to take this action after well-publicized studies dating back to 2003. The Wiki-links for the Kerala ban are to articles from this week, but the Coca Cola response to which the article links via footnotes, indicates the controversy has been out in the open since August of 2003.
(Wikipedia article at :en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca-Cola)
Evidently, both PepsiCo and Coca Cola prepare the contents and bottle the drinks locally. These two companies probably apply the most stringent standards to their processes and products. Although lapses are possible it’s hard to imagine them consciously applying a different set of standards to their product from country to country. It is especially hard to swallow the idea that PepsiCo and Coca Cola would be using standards less stringent than those of other manufacturers operating within India.
Studies of other locally-produced Indian soft drinks suggest that the problem is pervasive in the region. Rediff.com, an Indian business-website, has an article on the cola controversy, and pointed out that “Mirinda Lemon [my italics] topped the chart among all the tested brand samples with a total pesticide concentration of 0.0352 mg/l.” and finished its article on the problem saying “...in India, these companies cannot be taken to court since the norms that regulate manufacturing of cold drinks here are a "meaningless maze."
Living in the U.S. I have always regarded Coca Cola and Pepsi as products whose manufacturing standards could always be trusted, without having to depend on Government regulations. (That’s distinct from the question of whether drinking gallons of carbonated caffeinated drinks is healthy...) It disturbs me to think that either of those companies would apply less stringent standards to their products in one region for any reason. From their own logic, to do so raises questions about their products everywhere.
Al-Jazeera’s two linked articles fail to mention that a number of other Indian-produced soft drinks were tested and found to have contaminant levels far higher than those in Coca Cola and Pepsi products.
Finally, it is a very sad thing to me to find that in comparison to the writings of U.S. reporters, the articles in Al-Jazeera seem to be mostly devoid of hysterical anti-U.S. ranting. I am perfectly aware that their point of view is at odds with the policies and culture of the United States. They seem to be observing a standard of dry factual reporting of events without coloring every paragraph with their sneering contempt for the U.S. its products, and its current administration, which seems to distinguish them from most Western news organizations. They have their biases, and my own bitty research reminds me that they will omit facts that are inconvenient to their "narrative" but a lot of American journalists fall short of the professional standards demonstrated by many of Al-Jazeera's posts.
posted by Mad Fiddler at 11:08 AM
2 Comments:
"They seem to be observing a standard of dry factual reporting of events without coloring every paragraph with their sneering contempt for the U.S. its products, and its current administration, which seems to distinguish them from most Western news organizations."
I've noticed that too about al jazeera.
Wonder if their reporting in arabic is more colorful.
Considering how that is a consistent behavior throughout the Middle East — tailoring the statement to the expectations and tastes of the audience — probably.
On the other hand, that's what a lot of domestic politicians do.
Doesnt' make it right, just predictable.
Post a Comment
<< Home