Chlorate was detected in the company’s beverages, a chemical that can cause kidney failure at high levels
Coca‑Cola Europacific Partners has recalled a number of products in several European countries after detecting elevated levels of chlorate in its beverages.
Low doses of the chemical compound, which is a byproduct of chlorine disinfectants, is commonly found in drinking water, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. In 2015, the European Food Safety Authority warned of potential health risks associated with prolonged exposure, especially in children. It said chlorate “can inhibit iodine uptake,” with high concentrations consumed over a short period of time having the potential to decrease the “blood’s ability to absorb oxygen, leading to kidney failure.”
On Monday, the Coca‑Cola Europacific Partners branch in Belgium announced it was “recalling a number of products due to excessively high chlorate levels.” The batches in question are in cans and refillable glass bottles bearing production codes from 328 GE to 338 GE. Plastic bottles were not affected.
Coca‑Cola, Sprite, Fanta, Fuze Tea, Minute Maid, Nalu, Royal Bliss and Tropico are the brands included in the recall, the statement said.
“Coca‑Cola Europacific Partners Belgium asks consumers not to consume these products and to return the affected products with these codes to the point of sale for a refund,” the company advised, while apologizing to consumers.
The announcement went on to claim that “independent expert research concludes that the risk to consumers is very low.”
AFP quoted the company’s representative as saying that the beverages had also been distributed in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Luxembourg, and the UK since November.
“We do not have a precise figure, but it is clear that it is a considerable quantity,” Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Belgium acknowledged, emphasizing that the “majority of the affected and unsold products have already been removed from store shelves.”
High concentrations of chlorate were detected in beverages during a routine check at its production site in Ghent, Belgium, AFP reported sources as saying.
In October, Coca-Cola HBC Austria GmbH recalled several batches of Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite und MezzoMix as a “precautionary measure.” In a statement, the company said it could “not rule out that small metal fragments can be found in a very limited number of 0,5l PET bottles due to a technical fault in production.”
“We advise against consuming the potentially affected products due to a possible health risk,” the company said at the time.
