Case against soft drink firm over contaminated soda

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda

An analytical report issued by the Government Analyst (GA) regarding a questionable soda bottle which was found at a retail shop in the Slave Island area, stated that GA was able to found a contaminated ingredient from the soda bottle which was unfit for human consumption.

In this case a resident of Colombo 2 had made a complaint against a leading soft drinks manufacturing company alleging that a 400ml soda bottle issued to the market by the company contained parts of a dead animal, a contaminated ingredient.

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) had filed a case against the soft drinks manufacturing company alleging that it had committed an offence which comes under section 31(a) of the Consumer Affairs Authority Act.  The complainant had told ACC that he bought a soda bottle for the consumption of his child who was suffering from an ailment. He said he identified the contaminated ingredient which was contained in the soda bottle as parts of dead animal. In his complaint, the consumer requested the soft drink company that compensation be paid to him over the false representation of the production.  However, the soft drink company had denied all the allegations levelled against it and maintained that the company’s productions were in better condition.

When the case came up before Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage, the notices were issued on the seventh witness to be appear in Court on 19 June.