The Indian government is pushing for a ban on colas and soft drinks in schools and universities across the country in a big setback to Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and other soft drinks groups trying to rebuild their image following a pesticide scare earlier in the year.

"Colas with or without pesticides are harmful for health and should not be consumed. We want all forms of junk food like pizzas, chips, samosas and burgers banned from canteens," India's health minister Ambumani Ramadoss told reporters on the sidelines of a conference on nutrition in New Delhi.