Raipur: An ordinance would soon be brought to put water under the definition of food to formulate a standard for that in the wake of recent controversy involving soft drinks, according to Union Health Minister Sushma Swaraj.

It was most unfortunate that there was no standard for drinking water and under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act there was no definition of water. Hence, through an ordinance, water is being included under the definition of food, Swaraj told reporters at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters.

A group of experts would formulate a standard for drinking water since a lot of people were affected by water-borne diseases, she said.

To a question, she, however, clarified that as per the current standard the soft drinks were safe for consumption.

"As per the current standard they are safe for consumption. But out of the samples taken from 12 brands of soft drinks and tested at Central Food Testing Research Institute (CFTRI) Mysore and Central Food Laboratory, Kolkata, only 3 brands were found to be below the European Standard whereas in nine brands the pesticides content are more than EU standard," Swaraj said.

"But currently EU standard is not implemented in the country and the soft drinks are as per our standard but they had published half of my statement through advertisement for which the soft drink-makers apologised and the government has reserved its right to sue them also," she added.

PTI