Ban call on Coke, Pepsi by TN traders body comes into effect

CHENNAI: A call by the Traders Federation in Tamil Nadu to ban sales of Coca Cola and Pepsi soft drinks came into effect on Wednesday with its President A M Vikrama Raja declaring drinks as 'toxic' for consumption.

"About 70 per cent of the (15 lakh) traders have decided to boycott the sales of Coke and Pepsi from on Wednesday onwards for their toxic nature. Whatever you find on the shelves of the stores are leftover stocks and those not taken back by the (distributing) agencies," he said. Raja had earlier proposed a ban on sale of these brands at the height of pro-jallikattu protests in the state in January, where it was widely claimed that many international groups may have been behind the ban on the bull taming sport. Raja had then said that the youth and students who were part of that movement had extended their support to the cause of banning these soft drinks. Reacting to the call to boycott products of Coca-cola and Pepsico India, the Indian Beverage Association said it was "deeply disappointed".

"This is against the proven fundamentals of robust economic growth, and against the clarion call of Make in India," it said. IBA noted "the products manufactured by Coca-cola and Pepsi are of global standards and one of the safest available."

Citing a Supreme Court order of 2013, which had reportedly quoted an FSSAI panel's submission that ingredients present in aerated beverages "do not pose any health hazard," IBA, an organisation of non-alcoholic beverage industry, said the boycott call "violates the rights of the consumer to exercise choice."

Raja said that there was no estimate available on the revenue for traders from cola sales or the losses they could incur by boycotting them.