CHENNAI: PMK youth wing leader and former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss on Tuesday demanded that Coke and Pepsi as well as KFC foods be subjected to rigorous tests and their sale banned if found to contain poisonous substances.
According to him while Pepsi and Coke sold in US and Europe contain poisonous substances within stipulated limits, their products marketed in the country had 30 times the permissible quantity. Each can of Coke, he said contains eight teaspoons of sugar and children who drink them regularly would develop obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and other illness.
"A colorant named Caramel used to bring the dark grey colour of these drinks had been proved to produce cancer in human organs like lungs, liver and thyroid. Those who drink these drinks for long develop osteoporosis that will lead to weakening and fractures of bones. These drinks can be harmful in many other ways also," he said.
On KFC products, he said there were complaints that KFC was importing chicken legs rejected in the US which are highly harmful.
Tamil Nadu government should start an awareness program for the public regarding the ill effects of Pepsi and Coke and junk foods. Tamil Nadu should set a precedence to other states by banning the sale of these products in the neighbourhood of schools and educational institutions.
"Pepsi and Coke have a number of poisonous substances in them. Similarly the other products of these companies like Fanta, ThumsUp, Mrinda, 7up, Sprite have also been found to contain carcinogenic and immunosuppressive substances and traces of pesticides," he said.
Following detection of these substances in these drinks, Pepsi and Coke were banned in Rajasthan in 2003. Sale of Pepsi and Cokewere banned in the premises of Parliament and Punjab state Assembly, Anbumani added.
