Coca-Cola Europacific Partners initiated this Monday a massive recall of several of its drinks in Europe due to a content of chlorate exceed established standards. The products concerned include returnable glass cans and bottles from the brands Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, Fuze Tea, Minute Maid, Nalu, Royal Bliss and Tropico, including Zero and Light versions. The affected lots have a production code between 328 GE and 338 GE.
Chlorate is a byproduct of chlorine commonly used to disinfect drinking water. Although low levels of chlorate are common in foods and beverages, excessive intake can be harmful to health. According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), high chlorate intake in a single day can limit the blood’s ability to absorb oxygen, potentially leading to kidney failure.
The affected products were distributed in Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coca-Cola is asking consumers not to consume these products and to return them to the point of purchase for a refund. Products in plastic bottles (PET), fountain drinks or tetra packs are not affected by this recall.
Coca-Cola has apologized to consumers and its business partners for the incident, saying the products do not meet its high quality and safety standards. The company took this precautionary action, in collaboration with relevant authorities, to ensure consumer safety.