Coca-Cola orders recall of drinks in Europe due to safety concerns over ‘higher level’ of chlorate

The company further added that five product lines were already shipped to Britain by December 2024 end and they were already sold.

When chlorine based disinfectants are used in water treatment and food processing, it is then that Chlorate is produced. Exposure to higher levels of Chlorate can cause health issues including thyroid in children and infants, BBC reported.

According to Coca-Cola’s international bottling and distribution operation’s Belgium branch, the products affected by Chlorate include Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Tropico and Minute Maid brands.

A spokesperson told BBC that “Independent expert analysis concludes that any associated risk for consumers is very low.”

Coca-Cola stated that it had not received any complaints from Britain where the soft drink containing excessive amounts of Chlorate had already been sold. Coca-Cola added that it had “alerted the authorities on this matter and will continue to collaborate with them.”

On the issue of amounts of drink involved, Coca-Cola said “We do not have a precise figure, but it is clear that it is a considerable quantity.”

According to news agency AFP, the higher levels of Chlorate were identified in Coca-Cola’s production facility in north-west Belgium’s Ghent during routine testing.

Coca-Cola said that it had withdrawn the majority of affected drinks from the market, adding that it “considers the quality and safety of its products as its top priority”.