A higher-than-normal chlorate level has been detected in Coca-Cola drinks, prompting an investigation by the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) to determine whether any Coca-Cola products containing higher levels of the chemical are on sale in the UK.
The investigation follows an urgent recall of some drinks in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands due to the discovery of high levels of chlorate during routine quality control checks at the company’s bottling facility in Ghent, Belgium.
The European bottling unit of Coca-Cola had on Monday announced an urgent withdrawal of some drinks sold in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands due to high levels of chlorate detected.
The affected products include Appletiser, Coca-Cola Original Taste, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke, Sprite Zero, and other beverages with production codes between 328 GE and 338 GE. Batches of Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Minute Maid, and Fuze Tea were also among the products recalled in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, Independent UK reports.
Anne Gravett of the FSA said on Monday, “If we identify any unsafe food, we’ll take action to ensure it is removed and alert consumers.”
Although Coca-Cola said it had not received any consumer complaints in Great Britain. It said it had alerted the authorities on the matter and would continue to collaborate with them.
Chemical detected
Chlorate originates from chlorine disinfectants widely and legally used in water treatment and food processing.
Experts from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have previously warned that high levels of chlorate in drinking water and food could negatively impact iodine uptake in humans, especially among infants and children, potentially leading to serious health issues such as reduced red blood cell counts and a changed composition of the components of bone marrow.
However, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners made known that an independent expert analysis had concluded that the likelihood of any associated risk for consumers was ‘very low,’ and also published a list of recalled products.
Meanwhile, the company said on its website that its facility in Ghent processed 66,000 glass bottles and 120,000 cans per hour, operating around the clock.
Limited Distribution to UK
The FSA has said that there has been a limited distribution of Coca-Cola soft drinks containing higher levels of chlorate to the UK, Independent UK reports.
Tina Potter, of the FSA, on Tuesday, said the Coca-Cola Europacific Partners international product withdrawal relates to a “small number of their soft drinks” that contained higher levels of the chemical.
Countries take action
As the situation unfolds, other European countries are reviewing Coca-Cola products for potential contamination.
The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority issued a warning on Monday urging consumers not to drink the recalled products while Belgium’s Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain also announced a recall.
Also, the Luxembourg Veterinary and Food Administration explained that the exposure to chlorate can cause kidney problems and affect thyroid function. The agency added in a statement announcing the recall that “a risk, especially for children, cannot be ruled out” given the chlorine content detected.
Coca-Cola has advised customers not to consume drinks from the batches concerned and to return them to the point of sale to obtain a refund. “We apologise to consumers and our commercial partners,” the company said.
