Coca-Cola has issued a major recall of its drinks in countries across Europe due to the presence of chlorate in its products.
According to the Belgium branch of Coca-Cola’s international bottling and distribution operation, affected products include Coke, Sprite and Appletiser.
The global drinks brand said that five product lines had been shipped to Britain and had already been sold.
Chlorate is created when chlorine-based disinfectants are used in water treatment and food processing. The short-term effects of consuming it can cause nausea, vomiting, breathing problems and skin irritation.
Coca-Cola has issued a huge product recall across Europe
PA
Coca-Cola said the recall was focused on Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
The firm said other countries could be impacted too including the UK, Germany and France.
“We do not have a precise figure, but it is clear that it is a considerable quantity,” a Coca-Cola spokesman said when asked about the amount of products that are impacted.
It said it had not received any consumer complaints in the UK, and it has “alerted the authorities on this matter and will continue to collaborate with them”.
According to the AFP news agency, higher levels of chlorate were discovered during routine testing at the company’s production facility in Ghent, Belgium.
The majority of unsold products have been withdrawn from shelves but the company is still in the process of recalling the rest.
The European Food Standards Agency said in 2015: “A high intake of chlorate on a single day could be toxic for humans as it can limit the blood’s ability to absorb oxygen, leading to kidney failure.”
Food Standard’s Scotland added: “Chlorate can cause iodine deficiency in people.”
The global drinks brand has said it does not have a precise figure on how many products have been impacted
GETTY
Coca-Cola said in a statement to GB News: “Coca-Cola Europacific Partners considers the quality and safety of its products as its top priority.
“Routine testing identified that certain products contained elevated levels of chlorate. Independent expert analysis concluded that the likelihood of any associated risk of feeling temporarily unwell from consuming these products is very low.
“This has affected a very small number of imported cans of Appletiser, Coca-Cola Original Taste, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke and Sprite Zero with production codes from 328 GE to 338 GE, which can be found on the base of the can.
“We have flagged this issue to the food safety authorities in Great Britain and we remain in communication with them. We have had no consumer complaints or concerns in Great Britain.”
