ccc


 



 

 market size for FY00 was around 270 m.n cases (6480mn
bottles). The market witnessed 5- 6% growth in the earlyµ90s. Presently
the market growth has growth rate of 7- 8% per annum compared to 22%
growth rate in the previous year. The market size for FY01 is expected to be 7000 mn bottles.




The market preference is highly regional based. While cola drinks have main markets in metro
cities and northern states of UP, Punjab, Haryana etc. Orange flavored drinks are popular in
southern states. Sodas too are sold largely in southern states besides sale through bars. Western
markets have preference towards mango flavored drinks. Diet coke presently constitutes just
0.7% of the total carbonated beverage market.

c


The government has adopted liberalized policies for the soft drink trade to give the industry a
boast and promote the Indian brands internationally. Although the import and manufacture of
international brands like Pepsi and Coke is enhanced in India the local brands are being
stabilized by advertisements, good quality and low cost.

The soft drinks market till early 1990s was in hands of domestic players like campa, thumps up,
Limca etc but with opening up of economy and coming of MNC players Pepsi and Coke the
market has come totally under their control.

The distribution network of Coca cola had6.5 lakh outlets across the country in FY00, which the
company is planning to increase to 8 lakhs by FY01. On the other hand Pepsi Co's distribution
network had 6 lakh outlets across the country during FY00 which it is planning to increase to 7.5
Lakh by FY01.


Soft drinks are available in glass bottles, aluminum cans and PET bottles for home consumption.
Fountains also dispense them in disposable containers Non-alcoholic soft drink beverage market
can be divided into fruit drinks and soft drinks. Soft drinks can be further divided into carbonated
and non-carbonated drinks. Cola, lemon and oranges are carbonated drinks while mango drinks
come under non carbonated category.

The market can also be segmented on the basis of types of products into cola products and non-
cola products. Cola products account for nearly 61-62% of the total soft drinks market. The
brands that fall in this category are Pepsi, Coca- Cola, Thumps Up, diet coke, Diet Pepsi etc.
Non-cola segment which constitutes 36% can be divided into 4 categories based on the types of
flavors available, namely: Orange, Cloudy Lime, Clear Lime and Mango.

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A  (also referred to as 
, , 
,  or ) is a non-alcoholic

beverage typically containing water and a flavoring agent. Many are carbonated and sweetened,
and may contain additional ingredients such as fruit juice. Small amounts of alcohol may be
present, but the level would generally remain under 0.5% of the total volume for the drink to be
considered non-alcoholic.[1] Soft drinks are most often consumed chilled, and sometimes at room
temperature. Common soft drinks include cola, flavored water, sparkling water, iced tea, sweet
tea, sparkling lemonade (or other lemon-lime soft drinks), squash, fruit punch, root beer, orange
soda, grape soda, cream soda, and ginger ale.

The adjective "soft" is employed in opposition to "hard", the latter being used in reference to
drinks with a high alcohol content. Further, soft drinks are not thought of as containing milk or
other dairy products. Hot chocolate, hot tea, coffee, tap water, juice, schorle or spritzer and
milkshakes also do not fall into this classification.

Many carbonated soft drinks sweetened with sugar or corn syrup are available in diet versions
sweetened instead with non-caloric sweeteners.

X 

 





 

The terms used for soft drinks vary widely both by country and regionally within some
countries:[2]
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Soft drinks trace their history back to the mineral waters found in natural springs. Ancient
societies believed that bathing in natural springs and/or drinking mineral waters could cure many
diseases. Early scientists who studied mineral waters included Jābir ibn Hayyān, Alkindus,
Rhazes, Paracelsus, Robert Boyle, Friedrich Hoffmann, Antoine Laurent Lavoisier, Hermann
Boerhaave, William Brownrigg, Gabriel F. Venel, Joseph Black, and David Macbride.

The earliest soft drinks were sherbets developed by Arabic chemists and originally served in the
medieval Near East. "Alkaline Substances", "A kind of Saltwort" from which soda is obtained,
probably from Arabic suwwad, the name of a variety of saltwort exported from North Africa to
Sicily in the Middle Ages, related to sawad "black," the color of the plant.[3] These were juiced
soft drinks made of crushed fruit, herbs, or flowers.[4] From around 1265, a popular drink known
as Dandelion & Burdock appeared in England, made from fermented dandelion (Taraxacum
officinale) and burdock (Arctium lappa) roots, and is naturally carbonated. The drink (similar to
sarsaparilla) is still available today, but is made with flavorings and carbonated water, since the
safrole in the original recipe was found to be carcinogenic.[5]

The first marketed soft drinks (non-carbonated) in the Western world appeared in the 17th
century. They were made from water and lemon juice sweetened with honey. In 1676, the
È
 

 
of Paris was granted a monopoly for the sale of lemonade soft
drinks. Vendors carried tanks of lemonade on their backs and dispensed cups of the soft drink to
thirsty Parisians.

  
   

In late 18th century, scientists made important progress in replicating naturally carbonated
mineral waters. In 1767, Englishman Joseph Priestley first discovered a method of infusing water
with carbon dioxide to make carbonated water[6] when he suspended a bowl of distilled water
above a beer vat at a local brewery in Leeds, England. His invention of carbonated water, (also
known as soda water), is the major and defining component of most soft drinks. Priestley found
water thus treated had a pleasant taste, and he offered it to friends as a refreshing drink. In 1772,
Priestley published a paper entitled @
     in which he describes
dripping     (or sulfuric acid as it is now called) onto chalk to produce carbon dioxide
gas, and encouraging the gas to dissolve into an agitated bowl of water.[7]

Another Englishman, John Mervin Nooth, improved Priestley's design and sold his apparatus for
commercial use in pharmacies. Swedish chemist Torbern Bergman invented a generating
apparatus that made carbonated water from chalk by the use of sulfuric acid. Bergman's
apparatus allowed imitation mineral water to be produced in large amounts. Swedish chemist
Jöns Jacob Berzelius started to add flavors (spices, juices and wine) to carbonated water in the
late 18th century.
     

In the 1950s, a variant of soda in the United States called "Phosphate Soda" became popular with
the most popular of them being the orange phosphate. The drink consists of 1 oz orange syrup,
1/2 teaspoon of phosphoric acid, and the rest being carbonated water in a glass filed with ice.
This drink was commonly served in pharmacies.

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Artificial mineral waters, usually called "soda water," and the soda fountain made the biggest
splash in the United States. Beginning in 1806, Yale chemistry professor Benjamin Silliman sold
soda waters in New Haven, Connecticut. He used a Nooth apparatus to produce his waters.
Businessmen in Philadelphia and New York City also began selling soda water in the early 19th
century. In the 1830s, John Matthews of New York City and John Lippincott of Philadelphia
began manufacturing soda fountains. Both men were successful and built large factories for
fabricating fountains.

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The drinking of either natural or artificial mineral water was considered a healthy practice. The
American pharmacists selling mineral waters began to add herbs and chemicals to unflavored
mineral water. They used birch bark (see birch beer), dandelion, sarsaparilla, fruit extracts, and
other substances. Flavorings were also added to improve the taste. Pharmacies with soda
fountains became a popular part of American culture. Many Americans frequented the soda
fountain on a daily basis. Due to problems in the U.S. glass industry, bottled drinks were a small
portion of the market in the 19th century. (They were certainly known in England, though. In
==   , published in 1848, the caddish Huntingdon, recovering from months
of debauchery, wakes at noon and gulps a bottle of soda-water.[8]) In America, most soft drinks
were dispensed and consumed at a soda fountain, usually in a drugstore or ice cream parlor. In
the early 20th century, sales of bottled soda increased exponentially. In the second half of the
20th century, canned soft drinks became an important share of the market.

  u
  

Over 1,500 U.S. patents were filed for either a cork, cap, or lid for the carbonated drink bottle
tops during the early days of the bottling industry. Carbonated drink bottles are under great
pressure from the gas. Inventors were trying to find the best way to prevent the carbon dioxide or
bubbles from escaping. In 1892, the "Crown Cork Bottle Seal" was patented by William Painter,
a Baltimore, Maryland machine shop operator. It was the first very successful method of keeping
the bubbles in the bottle.

[edit] Automatic production of glass bottles

In 1899, the first patent was issued for a glass-blowing machine for the automatic production of
glass bottles. Earlier glass bottles had all been hand-blown. Four years later, the new bottle-
blowing machine was in operation. It was first operated by the inventor, Michael Owens, an
employee of Libby Glass Company. Within a few years, glass bottle production increased from
1,400 bottles a day to about 58,000 bottles a day.

[edit] Home-Paks and vending machines

During the 1920s, the first "Home-Paks" were invented. "Home-Paks" are the familiar six-pack
cartons made from cardboard. Automatic vending machines also began to appear in the 1920s.

 
  u
  

Soft drinks are made either by mixing dry ingredients and/or fresh ingredients (e.g. lemons,
oranges, etc.) with water. Production of soft drinks can be done at factories, or at home.

Soft drinks can be made at home by mixing either a syrup or dry ingredients with carbonated
water. Carbonated water is made using a home carbonation system or by dropping dry ice into
water. Syrups are commercially sold by companies such as Soda-Club.

    

Of most importance is that the ingredient meets the agreed specification on all major parameters.
This is not only the functional parameter, i.e. the level of the major constituent, but the level of
impurities, the microbiological status and physical parameters such as color, particle size, etc.[9]

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In the United States, soft drinks are sold in 3, 2, 1.5, 1 liter, 500 ml, 8, 12, 20 and 24 U.S. fluid
ounce plastic bottles, 12 U.S. fluid ounce cans, and short eight-ounce cans. Some Coca-Cola
products can be purchased in 8 and 12 U.S. fluid ounce glass bottles. Jones Soda and Orange
Crush are sold in 16 U.S. fluid ounce (1 U.S. pint) glass bottles. Cans are packaged in a variety
of quantities such as six packs, 12 packs and cases of 24, 36 and 360. With the advent of energy
drinks sold in eight-ounce cans in the US, some soft drinks are now sold in similarly sized cans.
It is also common for carbonated soft drinks to be served as fountain drinks in which carbonation
is added to a concentrate immediately prior to serving.

In Europe, soft drinks are typically sold in 2, 1.5, 1 litre, 500 ml plastic or 330 ml glass bottles;
aluminium cans are traditionally sized in 330 ml, although 250 ml slim cans have become
popular since the introduction of canned energy drinks and 355 ml variants of the slim cans have
been introduced by Red Bull more recently. Cans and bottles often come in packs of six or four.
Several countries have standard recyclable packaging with a container deposit, typically ranging
from ¼ 0.15 to 0.25. The bottles are smelted, or cleaned and refilled; cans are crushed and sold as
scrap aluminium.

In Australia, soft drinks are usually sold in 375 ml cans or glass or plastic bottles. Bottles are
usually 390 ml, 600 ml, 1.25 or 2 litre. However, 1.5 litre bottles have more recently been used
by the Coca-Cola Company. South Australia is the only state to offer a container recycling
scheme, recently having lifted the deposit from 5 cents to 10 cents. This scheme is also done in
the Philippines; people usually buy glass bottles and return them in exchange for a small amount
of money.

In Canada, soft drinks are sold in 237ml and 355ml aluminum cans and 591 ml, 710 ml, 1 l, 1.89
l, and 2 l plastic bottles. The odd sizes are due to being the metric near-equivalents to 8, 12, 16,
20, 24 and 64 U.S. fluid ounces. This allows bottlers to use the same-sized containers as in the
U.S. market. This is an example of a wider phenomenon in North America. Brands of more
international soft drinks such as Fanta and Red Bull are more likely to come in round-figure
capacities.

In India, soft drinks are available in 200 ml and 300 ml glass bottles, 250 ml and 330 ml cans,
and 600 ml, 1.25 l, 1.5 l and 2 l plastic bottles.

  
 

 



& 




The ice cream soda, or ice cream float, is a drink that consists of one or more scoops of ice cream
in either a soft drink or a mixture of flavored syrup and carbonated water. The most common of
these is the root beer float.
In the United States, it is usually called an "ice cream float", but may be called an "ice cream
soda", or soda for short, as they were made at the once-ubiquitous soda fountains. Some ice
cream sodas have specific names such as "black cow", "brown cow", "purple cow" (vanilla ice
cream in purple grape soda), and "Boston cooler" (vanilla ice cream in Vernors ginger ale).

In Australia and New Zealand, it is known as a "spider".

In Scotland (mainly the west coast) it is usually referred to as a "float", for example, a "coke
float" (as elsewhere, "coke" is often used generically to refer to any cola in Scotland, while
"soda" in Scotland is usually taken to mean soda water).

In Belfast, Northern Ireland, there is a regional variation: cola (regardless of brand) and vanilla
ice cream are called a "coke afloat".

 
   
The consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks is associated with obesity,[10][11] type 2 diabetes,
dental cavities, and low nutrient levels.[11] Experimental studies tend to support a causal role for
sugar-sweetened soft drinks in these ailments,[10][11] though this is challenged by other
researchers.[12][13] "Sugar-sweetened" includes drinks that use High-fructose corn syrup, as well
as those using sucrose.

Many soft drinks contain ingredients that are themselves sources of concern: caffeine is linked to
anxiety and sleep disruption[14] when consumed in excess, and the health effects of high-fructose
corn syrup and artificial sweeteners remain controversial. Sodium benzoate has been investigated
as a possible cause of DNA damage and hyperactivity. Other substances have negative health
effects, but are present in such small quantities that they are unlikely to pose any substantial
health risk. Benzene belongs to this category: the amount of benzene in soft drinks is small
enough that it is unlikely to pose a health risk.[15]

In 1998, the Center for Science in the Public Interest published a report titled  È 
   



 . The report examined statistics relating to the
soaring consumption of soft drinks, particularly by children, and the consequent health
ramifications, including tooth decay, nutritional depletion, obesity, type-2 (formerly known as
"adult-onset") diabetes, and heart disease. It also reviewed soft drink marketing and made
various recommendations aimed at reducing soft drink consumption.[16]

        

From 1977 to 2001, Americans doubled their consumption of sweetened beverages[17]²a trend
that was paralleled by a doubling of the prevalence of obesity.[18] The consumption of sugar-
sweetened beverages is associated with weight and obesity, and changes in consumption predict
changes in weight.[10][11] One study followed 548 schoolchildren over 19 months and found that
changes in soft drink consumption were associated with changes in body mass index (BMI).[19]
Each soft drink that a child added to his or her daily consumption was accompanied by an
increase in BMI of 0.24 kg/m2. Similarly, an 8-year study of 50,000 female nurses compared
women who went from drinking almost no soft drinks to drinking more than one a day to women
who went from drinking more than one soft drink a day to drinking almost no soft drinks.[20] The
women who increased their consumption of soft drinks gained 8.0 kg over the course of the
study while the women who decreased their consumption gained only 2.8 kg. In each of these
studies, the absolute number of soft drinks consumed per day was also positively associated with
weight gain.

Still, it is possible that people who lead unhealthy lifestyles consume more soft drinks. If so, then
the association between soft drink consumption and weight gain could reflect the consequences
of an unhealthy lifestyle rather than the consequences of consuming soft drinks. Experimental
evidence is needed to definitively establish the causal role of soft drink consumption. Reviews of
the experimental evidence suggest that soft drink consumption does cause weight gain,[10][11] but
the effect is often small except for overweight individuals.[12]

Many of these experiments examined the influence of sugar-sweetened soft drinks on weight
gain in children and adolescents. In one experiment, adolescents replaced sugar-sweetened soft
drinks in their diet with artificially sweetened soft drinks that were sent to their homes over 25
weeks.[21] Compared with children in a control group, children who received the artificially
sweetened drinks saw a smaller increase in their BMI (by í.14 kg/m2), but this effect was only
statistically significant among the heaviest children (who saw a benefit of í.75 kg/m2). In
another study, an educational program encouraged schoolchildren to consume fewer soft
drinks.[22] During the school year, the prevalence of obesity decreased among children in the
program by 0.2%, compared to a 7.5% increase among children in the control group.

Sugar-sweetened drinks also cause weight gain in adults. In one study, overweight individuals
consumed a daily supplement of sucrose-sweetened or artificially sweetened drinks or foods for
a 10 week period.[23] Most of the supplement was in the form of soft drinks. Individuals in the
sucrose group gained 1.6 kg, and individuals in the artificial-sweetener group lost 1.0 kg. A two
week study had participants supplement their diet with sugar-sweetened soft drinks, artificially
sweetened soft drinks, or neither.[24] Although the participants gained the most weight when
consuming the sugar-sweetened drinks, some of the differences were unreliable: the differences
between men who consumed sugar-sweetened drinks or no drinks was not statistically
significant.

Other research suggests that soft drinks might play a special role in weight gain. One four-week
experiment compared a 450 calorie/day supplement of sugar-sweetened soft drinks to a 450
calorie/day supplement of jelly beans.[25] The jelly bean supplement did not lead to weight gain,
but the soft drink supplement did. The likely reason for the difference in weight gain is that
people who consumed the jelly beans lowered their caloric intake at subsequent meals, while
people who consumed soft drinks did not. Thus, the low levels of satiety provided by sugar-
sweetened soft drinks may explain their association with obesity. That is, people who consume
calories in sugar-sweetened beverages may fail to adequately reduce their intake of calories from
other sources. Indeed, people consume more total calories in meals and on days when they are
given sugar-sweetened beverages than when they are given artificially sweetened
beverages[24][26][27] or water.[27]
A study by Purdue University reported that no-calorie sweeteners were linked to an increase in
body weight. The experiment compared rats who were fed saccharin-sweetened yogurt and
glucose-sweetened yogurt. The saccharin group eventually consumed more calories, gained more
weight and more body fat, and did not compensate later by cutting back.[28]

The consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks is also associated with many weight-related
diseases, including diabetes,[20] metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk factors,[29] and
elevated blood pressure.[23]

    

Most soft drinks contain high concentration of simple carbohydrates - glucose, fructose, sucrose
and other simple sugars. Oral bacteria ferment carbohydrates and produce acid, which dissolves
tooth enamel during the dental decay process; thus, sweetened drinks are likely to increase risk
of dental caries. The risk is greater if the frequency of consumption is high.[30]

A large number of soft drinks are acidic, and some may have a pH of 3.0 or even lower.[31]
Drinking acidic drinks over a long period of time and continuous sipping can therefore erode the
tooth enamel. Drinking through a straw is often advised by dentists as the drink is then
swallowed from the back of the mouth and does not come into contact with the teeth as much. It
has also been suggested that brushing teeth right after drinking soft drinks should be avoided as
this can result in additional erosion to the teeth due to the presence of acid.[32][33]

   


There have been a handful of published reports describing individuals with severe hypokalemia
(low potassium levels) related to chronic extreme consumption (4-10 L/day) of colas.[34]

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Research suggests a statistically significant inverse relationship between consumption of

carbonated beverages and bone mineral density in young girls, which places them at increased
risk of suffering fractures in the future.[35]

One hypothesis to explain this relationship is that the phosphoric acid contained in some soft
drinks (colas) displaces calcium from the bones, lowering bone density of the skeleton and
leading to weakened bones, or osteoporosis.[36] However, calcium metabolism studies by Dr.
Robert Heaney suggested that the net effect of carbonated soft drinks, (including colas, which
use phosphoric acid as the acidulent) on calcium excretion in urine was negligible. Heaney
concluded that carbonated soft drinks, which do not contain the nutrients needed for bone health,
may displace other foods which do, and that the real issue is that people who drink a lot of soft
drinks also tend to have an overall diet that is low in calcium.[36]
    

Unless fortified, they also contain little to no vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, or other essential
nutrients. Soft drinks may also displace other healthier choices in people's diets, such as water,
milk, fruit juice,[37] and vegetable juice.

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While the USDA recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of added sugars is less than 10
teaspoons per day for a 2,000-calorie diet[     ], many soft drinks contain more than this
amount.[     ] High caloric intake contributes to obesity if not balanced with exercise, with
a large amount of exercise being required to offset even small but calorie-rich food and drinks.

Until 1985, most of the calories in soft drinks came from sugar or corn syrup. As of 2010, in the
United States high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is used nearly exclusively as a sweetener because
of its lower cost[     ], while in Europe, sucrose dominates, because EU agricultural
policies favor production of sugar beets in Europe proper and sugarcane in the former colonies
over the production of corn. HFCS has been criticized as having a number of detrimental effects
on human health, such as promoting diabetes, hyperactivity, hypertension, and a host of other
problems.[38] Although anecdotal evidence has been presented to support such claims, it is well
known that the human body breaks sucrose down into glucose and fructose before it is absorbed
by the intestines. Simple sugars such as fructose are converted into the same intermediates as in
glucose metabolism.[39] However, metabolism of fructose is extremely rapid and is initiated by
fructokinase. Fructokinase activity is not regulated by metabolism or hormones and proceeds
rapidly after intake of fructose. While the intermediates of fructose metabolism are similar to
those of glucose, the rates of formation are excessive. This fact promotes fatty acid and
triglyceride synthesis in the liver, leading to accumulation of fat throughout the body and
possibly non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Increased blood lipid levels also seem to follow
fructose ingestion over time.

    


  u  

In recent years, debate on whether high-calorie soft drink vending machines should be allowed in
schools has been on the rise. Opponents of the (soft drink) machines believe that soft drinks are a
significant contributor to childhood obesity and tooth decay, and that allowing soft drink sales in
schools encourages children to believe they are safe to consume in moderate to large quantities.
Opponents note that children are not always mature enough to understand the consequences of
their own food choices and should not be routinely exposed to the temptation of readily available
soft drinks. They also argue that schools have a responsibility to look after the health of the
children in their care, and that allowing children easy access to soft drinks violates that
responsibility. Vending machine proponents believe that obesity is a complex issue and soft
drinks are not the only cause. They also note the immense amount of funding soft drink sales
bring to schools. Some people[ !] take a more moderate stance, saying that soft drink machines
should be allowed in schools, but that they should not be the only option available. They propose
that when soft drink vending machines are made available in school grounds, the schools should
be required to provide children with a choice of alternative drinks (such as fruit juice, flavored
water and milk) at a comparable price.

On 3 May 2006, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Cadbury Schweppes, Coca-Cola,
PepsiCo, and the American Beverage Association announced new School Beverage Guidelines
that will voluntarily remove high-calorie soft drinks from all U.S. schools.

On 19 May 2006, the British Education Secretary, Alan Johnson, announced new minimum
nutrition standards for school food. Amongst a wide range of measures, from September 2006,
school lunches will be free from carbonated drinks. Schools will also end the sale of junk food
(including carbonated drinks) in vending machines and tuck shops.

   ! 





O
 i

O

In the United States and elsewhere, legislators, health experts and consumer advocates are
considering levying higher taxes on the sale of soft drinks and other sweetened beverages to help
curb the epidemic of obesity among Americans, and its harmful impact on overall health. Higher
taxes could help reduce soda consumption.[40] Taxes could also fund education to increase
consumer awareness of the unhealthy effects of excessive soft drink consumption, and also help
cover costs of caring for conditions resulting from overconsumption.[41] The food and beverage
industry holds considerable clout in Washington, DC, as it has contributed more than $50 million
to legislators since 2000.[42]

    

In 2003, the Delhi non-profit Centre for Science and Environment published a disputed report
finding pesticide levels in Coke and Pepsi soft drinks sold in India at levels 30 times that
considered safe by the European Economic Commission.[43][44] The Indian Health Minister said
the CSE tests were inaccurate, and said that the government's tests found pesticide levels within
India's standards but above EU standards.[45][46]

A similar CSE report in August 2006 prompted many state governments have issued a ban of the
sale of soft drinks in schools. Kerala issued a complete ban on the sale or manufacture of soft
drinks altogether. (These were later struck down in court.) In return, the soft drink companies
like Coca Cola and Pepsi have issued ads in the media regarding the safety of consumption of the
drinks.[47]

The UK-based Central Science Laboratory, commissioned by Coke, found its products met EU
standards in 2006.[48] Coke and the University of Michigan commissioned an independent study
of its bottling plants by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), which reported in 2008 no
unsafe chemicals in the water supply used.[49]
  " #  


$*
 

In 2006, the United Kingdom Food Standards Agency published the results of its survey of
benzene levels in soft drinks,[50] which tested 150 products and found that four contained
benzene levels above the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for drinking water. The
agency asked for these to be removed from sale.

The United States Food and Drug Administration released its own test results of several soft
drinks containing benzoates and ascorbic or erythorbic acid. Five tested drinks contained
benzene levels above the Environmental Protection Agency's recommended standard of 5 ppb.
The Environmental Working Group[51] has uncovered additional FDA test results that showed the
following results: Of 24 samples of diet soda tested between 1995 and 2001 for the presence of
benzene, 19 (79%) had amounts of benzene in excess of the federal tap water standard of 5 ppb.
Average benzene levels were 19 ppb, about four times tap water standard. One sample contained
55 ppb of benzene, 11 fold tap water standards. Despite these findings, as of 2006, the FDA
stated its belief that "the levels of benzene found in soft drinks and other beverages to date do not
pose a safety concern for consumers".[52]

 ! 
A report in October 2006 demonstrates that some soft drinks contain measurable amounts of
alcohol.[53] In some older preparations, this resulted from natural fermentation used to build the
carbonation. In the United States, soft drinks (as well as other beverages such as non-alcoholic
beer) are allowed by law to contain up to 0.5% alcohol by volume. Modern drinks introduce
carbon dioxide for carbonation, but there is some speculation that alcohol might result from
fermentation of sugars in an unsterile environment. A small amount of alcohol is introduced in
some soft drinks where alcohol is used in the preparation of the flavoring extracts.

  

 

16-Jul-2003

Related topics: Markets

While soft drink producers in western Europe bemoaned yet another cold, wet summer in 2002,
their counterparts in India were struggling to keep up with demand, with exceptionally hot
weather there driving sales growth.
A new report from beverage industry analysts È  estimates that consumption in India
leapt by 13 per cent as a result of the heat wave, and producers will clearly try to capitalise on
this rapid advance in years to come.

Still drinks remain the largest single sector, according to Canadean, and while sales of packaged
still drinks grew strongly, the sector as a whole was held back by almost flat consumption of
unpackaged or loose alternatives. Helped by strong sales through roadside vendors, loose or
unpackaged still drinks account for over 90 per cent of total still drinks consumption, the report
shows.

Carbonates, on the other hand, gained considerable ground in 2002, with a 20 per cent increase
in consumption helping fizzy drinks narrow the gap with their still counterparts. This
performance is even more impressive given the fact that Indians do not tend to consume
carbonates with meals and home consumption is low.

The major carbonate producers reverted back to offering 20cl refillable glass - a move that
enabled affordable pricing to be implemented and one that resulted in sales of the pack size more
than doubling. This has also helped the major brands compete more effectively with their
traditionally less expensive local rivals.

PET is the fastest-growing type of packaging, its use increasing by some 36 per cent in 2002
alone. PET's share of total soft drinks packaging also increased from 20 per cent to 24 per cent
with further inroads expected in 2003.