Spanish researchers pioneering a rapid, automated method of screening food products for pesticides have found unacceptably high levels of pesticides in fruit-based Fanta brand soft drinks. The brand is part of the Coca-Cola line. Pesticide levels were highest in Fanta sold in the UK.

The study sampled more than 100 drinks from 15 countries including the United States, Russia, Italy, Germany, France and Switzerland. Those in Britain had the highest concentrations. The levels were on average more than 34 times greater than those permitted in tap or bottled drinking water, with some up to 300 times.