Is the sparkling liquid harmless as claimed, asks FREDDY DIAS The twang of an aerated bottle being opened brings forth a foaming and bubbling drink. You sip on it; and it feels exhilarating. The sparkling liquid, it is claimed, is free from alcohol and other habit-forming drugs. But is it harmless? The Supreme Court recently pulled up the central government for delaying the promulgation of a notification making it mandatory for soft drinks manufacturers like Coca Cola and Pepsi to disclose the actual contents of their products. These observations were made by the learned judges during a hearing in a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the New Delhi-based Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), seeking regulations and quality checks on sale and distribution of soft drinks, as they contained harmful substances. The petitioner, CPIL, alleged that the general public was exposed to a series of gastro-intestinal and other ailments due to heavy contents of pesticides, phosphoric acid, aspartame and other dangerous substances present in the soft drinks. The Apex Court, while granting three months time to the Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSA) to finalise the draft regulation to regulate the sale and distribution of soft drinks and other food products throughout the country, also told the government that it was improper to appoint top executives of the soft drinks and other food products manufacturers on to the