Coca-Cola recalls drinks over safety concerns

Coca-Cola has announced a recall of its beverage products in some European countries after detecting "higher concentrations" of the chemical chlorate in these products. The recall primarily affects Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, with the company stating that only five product lines were shipped to the UK, and all have been sold.

According to Coca-Cola's international bottling and distribution business in Belgium, the affected products include brands such as Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, juice, and Minute Maid. Chlorate is a byproduct produced when using chlorine-based disinfectants in water treatment and food processing. A Coca-Cola spokesperson told the BBC that "independent expert analysis indicates that the risk to consumers is very low."

Coca-Cola stated that it has not received any complaints from UK consumers and has "notified the relevant authorities about the matter and will continue to work with them." The company added that the incident affected a "very small number of imported cans of apple juice, original Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke, and Sprite Zero Sugar with production codes 328 GE to 338 GE," which can be found on the bottom of the cans.

Anne Gravett of the UK Food Standards Agency said the agency is investigating the matter. "If we find any unsafe food, we will take action to ensure it is removed and alert consumers," she added. Exposure to high concentrations of chlorate can cause health problems, including thyroid issues, particularly in children and infants.

Karen Glaser, a nutritionist with the UK National Health Service (NHS) and a private practice, told the BBC, "We need to question whether we are happy to ingest chemicals used in the production of fireworks and disinfectants in our soft drinks, even in small amounts." Ms. Glaser also cited recent research on the chemical, noting that excessive chlorate intake can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and limit the blood's ability to absorb oxygen.

According to AFP, citing an unnamed company spokesperson, the higher concentrations of chlorate were discovered during routine testing at the company's production facility in Ghent, Belgium. AFP reported that most of the unsold products have been removed from shelves, and the company is recalling the remaining products. A Coca-Cola spokesperson stated, "The company considers product quality and safety to be its top priority."