Coca-Cola Recalls Drinks in Six European Countries Over High Chlorate Levels

The European division of Coca-Cola is recalling its beverages in six European countries due to high levels of chlorate. The recall affects returnable glass cans and bottles of Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, Fuze Tea, Minute Maid, Nalu, Royal Bliss and Tropico, including Zero and Light, which have a production code of 328 GE to 338 GE. They contain too much chlorate, according to 7sur7 and France 24.

Coca-Cola European Partners Belgium is asking consumers not to consume the affected products and to return them to the point of sale for a refund.

The elevated levels of chlorate were discovered during a routine inspection at the company's production facility in Ghent, Belgium. The company said that the recall affects products in cans and glass bottles sold since November in Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Luxembourg.

The recall does not apply to products in plastic bottles, drink fountains or tetrapaks. 

Most of the products that have not yet reached consumers have already been removed from the shelves.

Coca-Cola's French subsidiary noted that independent experts had assessed the risk to consumers as ‘very low’. They added that they had not received any complaints from consumers.

The company has apologised to consumers and is in contact with supervisory authorities.

As noted, chlorate is formed as a by-product of the use of chlorine disinfectants for water treatment and food processing. In a 2015 scientific opinion, the European Food Safety Authority stated that long-term exposure to chlorates poses a potential health risk to children, especially those with mild to moderate iodine deficiency.