Coca Cola issues major recall for soft drinks over 'elevated' chemical levels
An investigation is being launched after a variety of soft drinks manufactured by Coca Cola may contain "higher levels" of chlorate.
The chemical can be produced when chlorine-based disinfectants are used in water treatment and food processing. Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Tropico and Minute Maid brands are said to have been affected.
So far, the recall is mainly focused on Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. As of writing, there is no official alert posted by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which is investigating the issue, while the Coca-Cola website is "down for maintenance."
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According to an unnamed company spokesperson from AFP News Agency, the higher levels of the chemical were said to have been discovered during routine testing at the company's. The majority of unsold products were then withdrawn from shelves, with the company in the process of withdrawing the rest.
The BBC reports that that just five product lines have been shipped to the UK and sold, with a "very small number of imported cans" affected. Nevertheless, no customer complaints have so far been issued by customers across Great Britain.
Affected products across the UK are Appletiser, Coca-Cola Original Taste, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke and Sprite Zero with production codes from 328 GE to 338 GE.
Although there are no complaints as of yet, the FSA is lodging an investigation to check if any of the drinks in the UK contain the higher levels of the chemical. Anne Gravett of the firm said: "If we identify any unsafe food, we'll take action to ensure it is removed and alert consumers."
What is Chlorate and what can it cause?
Chlorate is the name of a chemical that can be found in foods as it originates from chlorine disinfectants. It is legally used in water treatments and in food processing where the main contributor is drinking water.
Nevertheless, exposure to high levels of the compound can cause a few side effects and health conditions. These include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
According to the FSA's Anne Gravett, it can also limit the blood's ability absorb oxygen, citing recent research into the chemical.
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