I am not putting the results of the purity tests in dispute, but I strongly feel that we are being unfair to Coke & Pepsi. Looking in a broader perspective, they are simply being made scapegoats. The real culprits are the pesticides. Chemicals like DDT and Lindane developed few decades ago continue to choke and poison our earth and will continue to do so until some strong steps are taken.
DDT is banned in US and the EU, but here in India, we continue to produce tonnes of this ghastly chemical. Traces of DDT have been detected in almost every foodstuff ranging from bottled water and baby food to mithais and vegetables. Recently chilli powder exported to a country(I can’t recollect which one) was found to contain a dye which is a known carcinogen.
Coke & Pepsi make only softdrinks; they don’t manufacture their own water. Water is supplied to them by the govt., and this is where the chemicals get introduced. There is an anti-cola lobby abroad as well, though for different reasons(they are fighting over caffeine content).
Our govt. needs to develop a strategy to counter pollution and adulteration. Catalytic converters & ban on plastics is a step in the right direction, but we also need a ban on these chemicals & adulterants.
Believe me, your chances of falling ill after consumption of tap water at any restaurant are much higher than by drinking Coke or Pepsi.
I guess, we have a classic case of throwing the baby away with the bath water!