A New Delhi-based nonprofit alleged Coke and Pepsi’s soft drinks contain high levels of insecticides and pesticides.
Indian food-safety inspectors said Sunday they had filed a criminal complaint against Nestle India Ltd., the Indian arm of Nestle S.A., after finding “life-threatening” levels of lead in a batch of Maggi 2-Minute Noodles.
A statement from Nestle, released after initial reports of the allegedly high lead levels, said the company was aware its Maggi noodles were under the food-safety scanner in India. It said the company would conduct its own independent checks.
As public debate turns to food safety, we recap other recent allegations of food contamination in India.
Pesticides and cola: CocaCola Co. and PepsiCo Inc. found themselves in a media storm in 2003 after a New Delhi-based nonprofit alleged their soft drinks contained pesticide and insecticides at levels between 11 times and 70 times the maximum set by the European Union for drinking water. Coke’s sales plummeted by as much as 40% in the aftermath of the scare. Both companies disputed the claims, and spearheaded aggressive ad campaigns to contain damage.
Consumers found worms in Daily Milk bars in 2003. Associated Press
Worm-infested Cadbury bars: The same year, chocolate lovers in the western state of Maharashtradiscovered worms in Cadbury’s Dairy Milk bars, the country’s best-selling candy. Cadbury India Ltd., now Mondelez India Foods Pvt., said the infestation was likely because of poor storage conditions in India’s mom-and-pop shops. Much like Pepsi and Coke, the company responded with celebrity endorsements, including from Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan. They also added a plastic coating to their chocolate wrappers. The issue resurfaced in 2006 after a local courtordered the company to pay 15,000 rupees (now $235) as compensation to a man who gifted a worm-infested chocolate to a friend.
Poisoned school lunch: At least 23 children died and two dozen others fell sick after eating rice, beans and potato curry at a school lunch in the eastern state of Bihar in 2013. The lunch, part of a government program to feed tens of millions of malnourished children, was contaminated with pesticides.
KFC denies its chicken was contaminated. Pictured, a Paneer Zinger Burger. Junho Kim for The Wall Street Journal
KFC worm allegations: A businessman in the state of Tamil Nadu said he found a worm in a piece of KFC chicken last year. The allegations follow similar claims in 2012, when authorities shut down an outlet in the neighboring state of Kerala after customers reported worms in their chicken. KFC denied their food was contaminated in both instances.
Tainted country liquor: A batch oftainted country liquor killed 18 people and left another four dozen hospitalized in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh earlier this year. Inexpensive, homemade alcohol is common in rural areas, and often spiked with chemicals to enhance its flavor or potency.
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