It said in a statement that the embassy was in "close contact" with both the companies and had been carefully following the discussion over the quality of drinks sold by the two companies in India.

"Coca Cola and Pepsi are working intensively with the Indian Government to clarify these issues with the assistance of independent scientific experts and laboratories," the statement said.

"Both Coca Cola and Pepsi are confident that their products meet or exceed the highest national and international quality and safety standards," it added.

"Coca Cola and Pepsi are highly reputable and responsible firms with worldwide operations. They have repeatedly emphasized it is their top priority to provide the consumer with safe products."

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), an independently-run environment watchdog, said in a report released last week that its tests showed drinks sold by the Indian units of Coca-Cola and Pepsi, contained "dangerously high levels" of the toxic chemicals lindane, DDT, malathion and chlorpyrifos.

The CSE accused both companies of using polluted water.

Both the companies have denied the charges and questioned the manner in which the tests were conducted.

Meanwhile, India's Supreme Court Wednesday threw out a plea by Coca-Cola's Indian bottler for an independent evaluation of CSE's report.

The Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency said a three-judge bench refused to allow the plea by Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Limited and observed that people were free to choose what they wanted to drink.

"Can one not say that he does not want to drink soft drinks? You approach whichever forum you think appropriate to enforce your right, but we will not entertain this petition," the ruling said.

The petitioner's lawyer Kapil Sibal had argued in court that the authorities in three Indian states -- West Bengal, Punjab and Rajasthan -- had initiated a process to ban the sale of Coca-Cola based on the tests conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and so they should be independently evaluated.

PTI said the Supreme Court had asked Hindustan Coca-Cola why one "set of soft drink manufacturers moved the Delhi High Court while others came directly to the Supreme Court."

Coca Cola's Indian arm said in a statement that it "approached the Supreme Court to quickly address the current consumer confusion on this issue."

"The Supreme Court did not want to interfere at this early stage but said we could return later if necessary."

It added that a "consistent, professional testing protocol is

necessary" to protect the interests of consumers and the beverage manufacturers.

"Companies like Coca-Cola need to know that the government standards to which they are committed to honouring are being measured in a consistent and professional manner."

On Friday, Pepsi and its Indian bottler Pearl Drinks, asked the Delhi High Court to block publication of the "dubious" report, which appears in the latest issue of CSE's "Down to Earth" magazine.

Pepsi argued the CSE had used "suspect" research methods and urged the court to direct the government not to base policy on it.

TERRA.WIRE