Cochin, India, Aug. 23 - A southern Indian state said Wednesday it will not reverse its ban on the production and sale of soft drinks such as Coke, Pepsi and Sprite, even though the federal government has dismissed allegations that they are contaminated by high levels of pesticides.
Earlier this month, Kerala banned the production and sale of drinks made by the Indian subsidiaries of Coca Cola Co. and PepsiCo Inc. after the Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi said the levels of pesticides in the drinks made them unsafe for humans.
But federal Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss told Parliament Tuesday that his ministry found the center's data flawed.
Still, authorities in Kerala insisted the state's ban stands.
"Repeated studies have proved that the colas are not good for health. So we have banned them for people's welfare," said P. K. Sreemathi, Kerala's health minister. "Our decision is final ... We will enforce it strictly."
Six other states have banned the sale of the soft drinks in government-funded schools, colleges and hospitals since the center disclosed its findings earlier this month. Kerala, where Coca Cola and Pepsi both have bottling plants, is the only state to enforce a total ban.
Indian states have broad autonomy to make their own health and education policies, and they cannot be overruled by the federal government.
Before the government said the center's data was flawed, Coke and Pepsi challenged Kerala's ban in the state's High Court. The case is scheduled to be heard Thursday.