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Learning English - Words in the News

22 September, 2006 - Published 11:45 GMT - BBC

Pepsi and Coke in India victory 百事可乐和可口可乐在印度胜诉

Coca-Cola and Pepsi have won their legal battle against a complete ban on selling their soft drinks in the southern Indian state of Kerala. They successfully challenged the claim that their products contain harmful chemicals. This report from John Sudworth:

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The complete ban on the production and sale of Coca-Cola and Pepsi in Kerala was the toughest（最强硬的） action taken by any Indian state in response to the allegations of pesticide contamination. It was introduced in early August following a report by an Indian campaign group, the Centre for Science and Environment, which claimed the drinks they tested contained harmful traces of chemicals.

The ban shut off a market of thirty-million potential customers in the south of the country and reinforced the negative publicity facing the soft drinks giants. But Coca-Cola and Pepsi went to court, arguing that the communist state government acted outside of its powers and that the prohibition was harsh and unfair.

The Kerala High Court has now found in favour of the two companies, ruling that only the central government has the power to ban food products. Coca-Cola and Pepsi also dispute the evidence on which the ban was based, saying they can verify that the ingredients the use conform to the highest purity standards.

John Sudworth, BBC Correspondent, Delhi

Listen to the words

allegations 断言
statements which have been made but not proved which say that someone has done something wrong or illegal

pesticide contamination 杀虫剂污染物
making the drinks not safe because they include poisonous chemicals used by farmers to kill insects and other bugs which damage their crops

traces 微量
small amounts

potential 可能的
possible

reinforced 加强
made stronger

prohibition 禁止
restriction, ban

dispute the evidence 怀疑证据
do not accept that the proof given is true and correct

verify 证实
prove

conform to the highest purity standards 符合最高纯度
follow the highest standards of cleanliness