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:

Listen to the story

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 they use conform to the highest purity standards.

John Sudworth, BBC Correspondent, Delhi

Listen to the words

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

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

traces
small amounts

potential
possible

reinforced
made stronger

prohibition
restriction, ban

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

verify
prove

conform to the highest purity standards
follow the highest standards of cleanliness

Read more about this story