Coca-Cola commissioned the study after a wave of student protests on campuses around the world, spurred by reports of high pesticide levels in Coca-Cola drinks in India. Those accusations originated with another Delhi-based environmental research group, the Centre for Science and Environment, which disclosed in August 2006 that tests it had conducted on 11 Coke and Pepsi products showed pesticide levels as much as 24 times the recommended limit.

Shortly after those findings were released, students at the University of Michigan called for a ban on the sale of all Coke products on campus. After talks with the university, Coca-Cola agreed to cooperate with an independent assessment of its work in India. The university selected the institute to conduct the research, which was financed by Coke.

In a letter to Coca-Cola after publication of the report, the University of Michigan said it would continue to do business with the company.

Sunita Narain, head of the Centre for Science and Environment, said that TERI tested the water used in the manufacture of the drinks, rather than the final product. “We don’t see this as a clean chit for Coca-Cola because the study doesn’t test the final product, and that is what the consumer drinks,” she said in a telephone interview, adding that pesticides could be present in other ingredients.