SC sets aside criminal proceedings against PepsiCo

Looking into a petition filed by the multinational company, a bench headed by Justice Altamas Kabir set aside the criminal prosecution initiated against PepsiCo India for selling soft drinks with higher pesticide content than the prescribed limit.

The apex court also set aside the earlier order of the Kerala High Court, which had refused to stay criminal proceedings against the company.

In September, the Supreme Court had reserved judgement on the issue after the cola major filed an affidavit contesting the state government's decision to initiate criminal proceedings over alleged adulteration of soft drinks.

PepsiCo had argued that as per law, there is no provision governing pesticide adulteration in cold drinks and asserted it is a universally accepted norm that pesticide residue is present in all food articles.No standards have been fixed yet on the permissible pesticide content in soft drinks under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, and Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955.