In India, cola is said to be used as a pesticide.
Cola – the most important thing to start with
- Cola is said to be used as a pesticide in India because it contains pesticides
- In fact, pesticides were found in Indian cola in 2003
- Coke works because of the sugar that attracts ants, not because of pesticide residue
A sharepic claims that Coca-Cola and Pepsi are used as pesticides in India because they are cheaper and just as effective. This picture is about:

“Did you know that Coca Cola and Pepsi are used as pesticides in India because they are cheaper and just as effective?”
The Sharepic has existed since at least 2004 and is available in different variations. What is new about the image that is now being distributed is the introductory text:
“Sixteen years ago, Greenpeace reported that Indian farmers were experimenting with cola and using it to protect plants because the product was full of pesticides, prompting the Supreme Court to demand a warning on the label. Likewise for Pepsi. Anyone who complains about glyphosate shouldn't drink it...apart from the rest of the crap that's in it."
[mk_ad]
2003 – Pesticides found in cola in India
found in Indian Coca-Cola and Pepsi in 2003 . At that time only in Cola, which was sold in New Delhi and the surrounding area, and later in other places in India. The hustle and bustle about it was quite big : the two companies first denied it, but then had to confirm the residues after several laboratories verified the tests.
The discussion then shifted to the water quality in India, which is also used to produce the drinks, since the same pesticide residues are also found there, so that ultimately the demand was made that we should start by improving the water quality in India to solve these problems.
2004 – Cola as a pesticide
An unknown number of farmers came up with the idea of using cola as a pesticide substitute for their crops, which caused sales of the drink to skyrocket because it actually seems to work . But not only Cola, but also other soft drinks were used for plant protection, at least back then, because they were also much cheaper than conventional pesticides.
So is cola a pesticide?
The idea is understandable: If pesticides were found in Cola and Cola acts as a pesticide, the pesticides in the drink must work really well.
Correct? Incorrect!
Even though Cola and Pepsi in India contained pesticides, the amounts were not enough to effectively protect the plants. However, there is another reason why the soft drinks are suitable as pesticides: sugar !
As Indian agricultural expert Devendra Sharma explains , the drinks work so well because the sugar syrup they contain attracts red ants, which then settle near the plants. These ants are not harmful to the plants, but feed on the pest larvae that are on the plants.
In addition, the drinks provide the plants with a direct supply of carbohydrates and sugar, which in turn strengthens the plants' immunity and the plantation also produces a better harvest.
Incidentally, the method is not as new as it first sounds: sugar obtained from sugar cane has long been used in India on many occasions as a substitute for pesticides, the soft drinks only have the same effect in principle, says Sharma.
Anupam Verma, sales manager for Pepsi in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh, explains that sales have increased by 20 percent since its use, but, says Verma with a wink, if Pepsi were actually an effective pesticide (i.e. a means of direct pest control), they would Actually sell the drink as such, since pesticides make more money than soft drinks.
[mk_ad]
Conclusion
It is not known whether farmers in India still use Pepsi & Co as crop protection products today.
What is clear, however, is that Cola not act like a pesticide: it does not destroy pests, but rather attracts ants, which in turn feed on the larvae of the pests.
The conclusion that Cola is a good pesticide because it contains pesticides is therefore wrong ! The pesticide residues in the drinks at that time also referred solely to India, not worldwide.
The effectiveness is also rather controversial: While pesticides fight the pests, with Cola and Pepsi you have to hope that there are enough ants nearby.
Article image: Shutterstock / Picsfive / AlenKadr
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Notes:
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