The central government has decided to set up a national-level experts group to study the claims of pesticide content in soft drinks. The panel would decide the health impact of carbonated drinks.

Earlier, an expert committee had submitted its report to the Supreme Court and said that there is a need to carry out well-controlled studies to review effects of consumption of carbonated drinks on health.

The Union Health Ministry has set up the panel. N K Ganguly, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is the chairman of this panel. He said in his report that contents of carbonated drinks could be harmful if their intake exceeds the maximum permissible limits.

The report also has recommended for setting up of an independent cell for health hazard study to rapidly supply an objective risk assessment and risk evaluation on a wide range of food safety issues.

The report said further that there should be more efforts to develop capacity of analytical facilities in most of the selected laboratories for helping the monitoring purposes.

The committee, at the same time, has recommended the first-ever standards for soft drinks in India. The committee said further that the data should be generated on consumption pattern of carbonated beverages.

Most importantly, the committee has recommended that there is a need to create awareness in people, particularly among school-going children to avoid consuming high calorie rich and non-nutritious junk foods and drinks to keep themselves healthy.

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