Ingredients in cola drinks : companies violating rules

RTI response has confirmed that both Food Safety & Standards Authority of India and Union Ministry of Food Processing are having a closed eye on open violation of ?Prevention of Food adulteration Rules 1955? when cola-companies have failed to print names of ingredients on their packs. Union Ministry of Food Processing responded to the RTI petition dated 17.11.2008 only after 20 months but only when Central Information Commissioner Ms Deepak Sandhu acted harsh by imposing the maximum penalty of rupees 25000 under RTI Act.

Printing of ingredients of cola-drinks on their packs will expose harmful ingredients in cola-drinks at a time when cola-companies voluntarily decided to stop selling cola-drinks in schools worldwide. Strict-most action should be taken against those responsible for neglecting violation of rules by cola-companies by not printing ingredients on cola-packs. Even refillable glass-bottles are also to carry details of ingredients now after 19.03.2009.

Union Government should ban advertisements of cola-drinks because of hazardous and addicting effects of these drinks making children diabetic at young age. Earlier also, soft-drink manufacturers were asked to remove an oil from their products which was found to be harmful for health.