Thursday, August 25 2005 10:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jaipur: A laboratory test conducted on samples of major soft drinks brands, including Pepsi, has found presence of excessive E-Coli (bacteria) counts in them that are injurious to health, the Rajasthan Government said last night (August 24, 2005).

The tests in Central Public Health Laboratory here, on soft drinks, including Pepsi, bottled in nearly half-a-dozen refilling plants in the state, have shown 110 per ppm more of E-Coli counts, an official release quoting the state Medical and Health Minister Digamber Singh said.

As per the standard limits, the E-Coli count should not exceed 50 per ppm as per norms set in 2004 but a number of refilling plants were violating these norms, the minister said.

He said stern action would be taken against these bottling plants located in parts of the state.

The companies on whose products the tests were conducted are, Varun Bevrages Ltd and Sahil bottling Company, Alwar, Ronak Soft Drinks, Chittorgarh, Balaji Bottling, Kota, Ambika Bottling Plant, Abu Road and Balaji Bottling, Ajmer.