Elevated levels of chlorate discovered during routine testing have led Coca-Cola to recall several beverage brands in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, the company announced yesterday.
The affected products include popular brands Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Tropico, and Minute Maid, according to Coca-Cola’s Belgium bottling operation. They stated that five product lines were shipped to Britain, and these have already been sold to consumers.
“Independent expert analysis concludes that any associated risk for consumers is very low,” a Coca-Cola spokesperson told the BBC. The company said it hasn’t received any consumer complaints in Great Britain and is cooperating with authorities.
The Food Standards Agency confirmed it is investigating the situation. “If we identify any unsafe food, we’ll take action to ensure it is removed and alert consumers,” said Anne Gravett from the agency.
Chlorate, which can form when chlorine-based disinfectants are used in water treatment and food processing, can cause health issues in high concentrations. NHS nutritionist Caron Grazette noted that excessive exposure can lead to thyroid problems, particularly in children and infants, along with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
The affected products in Britain can be identified by production codes from 328 GE to 338 GE on the base of cans of Appletiser, Coca-Cola Original Taste, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke, and Sprite Zero.
According to AFP, the discovery was made during routine testing at the company’s Ghent production facility in Belgium, and most unsold products have already been removed from store shelves.
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