According to Alok Prasad Putul, the farmers in India use Coca-Cola and Pepsi as pesticides. The Center for Science and Environment (CSE) states that the soft drinks produced in India contain extremely high levels of pesticide residues, and they are used for eliminating pests, meaning that they are poisonous for the human metabolism.
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In some countries, buying Coke is cheaper and easier than getting clean water. Despite the fact that it is associated with pollution, water shortages, and diseases, Coca-Cola has public relations propaganda in order to convince the buyers that the company is environmental.
The Soft Drinks Contain Cancer-Causing Pesticide Residues
In 2003, a study conducted by the CSE has analyzed Coke samples from 24 manufacturers. The scientists discovered that the samples contain residues of four toxic pesticides and insecticides, chlorpyrifos, lindane, DDT, and malathion.
Compared to EEC limit, the content of malathion was 87 times higher, the chlorpyrifos was 42 times higher, and the lindane, which is banned in the United States, was 21 times higher.
The findings of the study showed that Coca-Cola and Pepsi contain almost the same concentration of pesticides. These pesticides can cause many severe side effects, including disruption of the immune system, birth defects, reproductive and nervous system damage, and long-term cancer.
Compared to the norms of EEC, the contaminants in the Pepsi samples were 37 times higher, and in the samples of Coca-Cola, they were 45 times higher.
The president of Coca-Cola in India, S. Gupta, claims that the revelations of the study were unfair and that his company was subjected to a trial by the media. The Coca-Cola and Pepsi companies disagree that their products should be used as pesticides since they don’t contain anything that can be used as a pest control.
The CSE scientists also tested samples of some popular soft drinks in the United States, and they discovered that the drinks don’t contain any pesticide residue.
Over 95% of the soft drinks in the U.S. consist of municipal water supplies that contain the same pharmaceuticals and toxins as carbamazepine, sulfamethoxazole, gemfibrozil, trimethoprim, atrazine, arsenic, atenolol, and fluoride.
The Farmers Claim That Coca-Cola and Pepsi Are Successful in Protecting the Crops
Various farmers have stated that Coca-Cola and Pepsi are helpful in protecting the rice plantations from the pests.
The usage of these drinks for this purpose has become a popular trend in many parts of India, which has drastically increased the sale of the beverages in almost all villages.
The reason why these drinks are used as pesticides in India is because they are a far less expensive alternative which provides effective results.
If the farmers buy 1 l of pesticides, such as Avant, Nuvacron, or Tracer, it will cost 10,000 rupees or £120. On the other hand, 1.5 l of Coke costs 30 rupees, meaning that the farmers will need only 270 rupees to spray an acre. And, if these drinks are mixed with water, it will cost 55-60 rupees less for an acre.
Nevertheless, Sharma, an agricultural specialist, states that these drinks cannot produce the same effect as the pesticides. He claims that they contain sugar syrups which, when sprayed on the crops, attract red ants that feed on the larvae of the insects.
via source
