Indian Supreme Court rejects bid for panel to be established to regulate soft drinks

India’s Supreme Court has rejected a public interest lawsuit asking that an independent expert committee be set up to evaluate the effects of soft drinks on human health and, in particular, on children’s health.

The suit was filed by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation, a non-governmental organisation that conducts litigation on matters of public interest.

The suit also demanded a regulatory regime that could check for and control the addition of particular chemical additives to foods, including soft drinks.

The court said that the existing legislation had provisions to check the risks to health of contaminants and chemical additives in food and thus that a separate entity was not needed.

The judgment passed …