FSSAI contract with Coca-Cola opposed

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 29

The Dehradun-based biodiversity conservation organization, Navdanya, has condemned the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) contract with Coca-Cola and other multinational companies to teach street vendors about hygiene and food safety.

In a statement issued today, founder director of Navdanya Dr Vandana Shiva asserted that given Coca-Cola’s track record of contamination, water theft, blatant transgression of environmental laws and expulsions from India, they were the least qualified to teach Indians about food safety.

“We request the FSSAI authorities to cancel the contract as this is against India’s interests and unjustly imposes industrial standards on small-scale vendors and artisans,” Dr Vandana Shiva pointed out.

“First, we as citizens have the right to know on what basis this contract was allotted to Coca-Cola? Given their past record of pollution, contamination, water theft and food unsafety, how did this company get the contract?, Dr Shiva added.

Navdanya, along with the Azadi Bachao Andolan 15 years ago, started the Coke Pepsi Quit India movement and campaigned for Coke Pepsi-free zones in schools. The Delhi High Court, realising the importance of banning junk foods, even passed an order curbing the sale of junk foods in school canteens to prevent foodstyle diseases such as diabetes and obesity.