Across Europe, Coca-Cola has recalled some of its drinks due to “higher levels” of chlorate being identified. In a statement, the firm said the recall focused predominately on Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Although five product lines had already been shipped to Britain, and have since sold.
According to the Belgium branch of Coca-Cola’s international bottling and distribution operations, the Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Tropico, and Minute Maid brands are all affected. Chlorate is a chemical that can be produced when chlorine-based disinfectants are used in water treatment and food processing.
The risk for consumers is “very low” a spokesperson told the BBC. The company added it had not received any consumer complaints in Britain and that it had “alerted the authorities on this matter and will continue to collaborate with them.”
The company added the issue has affected “a very small number of imported cans” of Appletiser, Coca-Cola Original Taste, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke and Sprite Zero with production codes from 328 GE to 338 GE. These codes can be found on the base of the can.
Anne Gravett from the Food Standards Agency said it was investigating. “If we identify any unsafe food, we’ll take action to ensure it is removed and alert consumers,” she added.
When humans are exposed to high levels of chlorate, it can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, as well as limit the blood’s ability to absorb oxygen. Amongst children and infants, it can cause health problems such as thyroid problems.
The high levels of chlorate were discovered during routine testing at the company’s production facility in Ghent, Belgium. The majority of unsold products had been withdrawn from shelves, according to the AFP news agency, and Coca-Cola was in the process of withdrawing the rest.