KATHMANDU, Aug 12: Nepal has begun testing five major soft drinks for hazardous ingredients following claims that Pepsi and Coca-Cola drinks in India are contaminated with pesticides, a public health official said on Tuesday.

“Samples of soft drinks like Coke, Pepsi, Fanta, Sprite and Mirinda have been collected for lab tests,” the official said.

The move by the Nepalese department of food technology follows a report last week by a non-governmental organization claiming colas being sold in India contain harmful quantities of pesticide.

The claims by the India’s Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) have been disputed by Coca-Cola and Pepsi.

Due to lack of specialised equipment, the DFTQC’s study would not be up to European standards, as was the case in New Delhi, but would detect any hazardous materials, the official said.

The tests were ordered after mounting pressure from the public, which has expressed concern over the possible contamination of soft drinks in Nepal. —AFP