The Coca-Cola Company has recalled a range of its products in the UK after its bottling partner detected “elevated levels” of a chemical called chlorate.
This follows a larger recall of Coca-Cola products across Europe on Monday.
Among the affected products are cans of Coca-Cola Original Taste, Appletiser multipacks, Diet Coke, Sprite Zero, and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, which were distributed to cafes and restaurants.
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, the company’s bottling partner, said the risk of illness was “very low.”
The affected cans bear production codes from 328 GE to 338 GE on their base.
The firm stated that most Coca-Cola products, including standard cans and all glass and plastic bottles sold in the UK, are not affected.
The UK recall follows the withdrawal of Coca-Cola products from shelves in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands (Benelux region) on Monday.
An unnamed company spokesperson, quoted by AFP news agency, said higher levels of chlorate were discovered during routine testing at the company’s production facility in Ghent, Belgium.
Coca-Cola initially stated that only five product lines had been exported to Britain and had already been sold. It added that it had “alerted the authorities.”
However, on Wednesday, the firm confirmed a UK recall “following ongoing dialogue with the UK Food Standards Agency.”
Chlorate can be produced when chlorine-based disinfectants are used in water treatment and food processing.
Exposure to high levels of chlorate can lead to health problems, including thyroid issues, especially in children and infants.
NHS and private nutritionist Caron Grazette said on Monday:
“We need to question whether or not we want to digest chemicals in soft drinks which are used in the production of fireworks and disinfectants, however small the quantity.”
Grazette added that excessive chlorate consumption could cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and impair the blood’s ability to absorb oxygen, citing recent research on the chemical.
However, the company maintained that the risk to consumers was minimal.
“Independent expert analysis concluded that any associated risk of feeling temporarily unwell from consuming these products is very low,” Coca-Cola Europacific Partners said.
“The quality and safety of our products is our top priority, and we’re sorry that, on this occasion, a small number of our products have not met our high standards. We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused,” the company added in a statement.
