Coca-Cola has recalled certain drinks in several European countries, including Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, due to higher-than-acceptable levels of chlorate, a chemical used in water treatment and food processing.
The affected products include Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Tropico, and Minute Maid brands. A small number of cans of Appletiser, Coca-Cola Original Taste, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke, and Sprite Zero were also impacted in the UK. Coca-Cola confirmed that the products had already been sold, and no consumer complaints were reported in Great Britain.
The company assured that independent expert analysis concluded the associated risk for consumers is very low, and it has been collaborating with authorities to resolve the issue. Exposure to high levels of chlorate can cause health problems, particularly thyroid issues in children and infants.
The Food Standards Agency is investigating the matter, and action will be taken if any unsafe products are identified.
NHS and private nutritionist Caron Grazette told the BBC: “We need to question whether or not we want to digest chemicals in soft drinks which are used in the production of fireworks and disinfectants, however small the quantity”.
Chlorate’s effects on humans when taken in excess include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and limiting the blood’s ability to absorb oxygen, added Ms Grazette, citing recent research into the chemical.
The higher levels of chlorate were discovered during routine testing at the company’s production facility in Ghent, Belgium, according to an unnamed company spokesperson quoted by the AFP news agency.
The majority of unsold products had been withdrawn from shelves, according to AFP, and the company was in the process of withdrawing the rest.
A Coca-Cola spokesperson said it “considers the quality and safety of its products as its top priority”.
