Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 22 (IANS) The Kerala High Court Friday ordered a stay of the ban imposed on cola companies by the state government.

The multinational companies Coca-Cola and Pepsico had in separate petitions on Aug 18 challenged the government's ban on aerated drinks.

The high court verdict said the cola companies had not got social justice.

Meanwhile, State Law Minister M. Vijayakumar told reporters that the government, after consultations with legal experts, would appeal against the high court decision.

The Kerala government had on Aug 9 banned the manufacture and sale of the soft drinks Pepsi and Coke in the state after tests by the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment showed high quantities of pesticides in 12 branded samples.

In their petitions, the cola giants pointed out that their products were safe and no scientific studies had shown any harmful contents. Both Pepsi and Coke have bottling plants in Palakkad district.