Accusing the cola majors Pepsi and Coke of trying to escape from their responsibilities, a leading consumer organisation, the Consumer Unity and Trust Society, on Thursday said it would move the apex consumer court, seeking the withdrawal of soft-drinks and a ban on their sale.

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Coming down heavily on the multi-national companies for criticising the Centre for Science and Environment that reported presence of insecticide and pesticide much above the permitted European Union level in their soft-drinks, CUTS said, "The consumer groups are indignant about Pepsico and Coke casting aspersions on the integrity of CSE, whose credibility is above reproach."

"When the automobile industry in India adheres to European standards why should other industries, particularly those manufacturing edible products that have a direct bearing on our health, not follow suit," Pradeep S Mehta, secretary general, CUTS, said in a statement in New Delhi.

CUTS has written to the CEOs of Pepsi and Coke. "If the letters meet with no response, we might take legal recourse as both the cola majors are violating not just consumers' right to information and right to education but more importantly their right to safety as well," Rajan R Gandhi, director, CUTS said.