Research published in France has revealed that popular carbonated soft drinks, Coca-Cola and Pepsi, contain small traces of alcohol.

According to the scientific research and tests conducted by the Paris-based National Institute of Consumption (INC), Coca-Cola, Pepsi and a slew of other leading cola drinks, have been found to contain “traces of alcohol”, the Daily Mail reported.

The results of the tests, published in the latest issue of French magazine, 60 Million Consumers, raises serious concerns for consumers who choose colas over alcohol based on religious beliefs.

The traces of alcohol are minute, as low as 10mg in every litre, rounding up to 0.001 per cent alcohol, but the percentage, however minute, could still prove upsetting to strict non-alcoholics and those seeking to avoid alcohol for health and safety reasons.

Nineteen colas were tested and of those 10 of them had traces of alcohol, including top brands like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Coca-Cola Classic Light and Coke Zero.

The other nine that contained no alcohol were mostly cheaper brands like Auchan, Cora, Casino, Leader Price and Man U-Cola.

Michel Pepin, scientific director for Coca-Cola France, said: “It is possible that traces of alcohol come from the process’ of making Coca Cola according to its secret recipe.

He argued, however, that Coca-Cola was provably “soft” and recognized as such “by the government authorities in which they are sold”.

Pepin also assured that “the Paris Mosque has provided us with a certificate stating that our products can be consumed by the Muslim community in line with the religious opinions of the Committee of the Mosque of Paris.”

A spokesman for Pepsi acknowledged that “some soft drinks can contain minute traces of alcohol because of the ingredients used,” although “the Pepsi Cola recipe does not contain alcohol “.

Both companies suggested that natural fruit can ferment and produce minute traces of alcohol, the Daily Mail reported.