Coca-Cola recalls drinks in UK due to elevated chlorate levels
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A range of Coca-Cola products were recalled in the UK due to "elevated levels" of a chemical called chlorate.
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A note is posted next to cleared cases of soft drinks sitting on a shelf in a supermarket in Antwerp, Belgium, after Coca-Cola recalled some of its soft drinks in Europe, on January 28, 2025. (AP)
Several Coca-Cola products have been recalled in the UK after the company’s bottling partner detected "elevated levels" of chlorate in certain batches.
Cans of Coca-Cola Original Taste, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke, and Sprite Zero supplied to cafes and restaurants, as well as 6x250ml Appletiser multipacks sent to UK supermarkets, are being recalled.
This follows a larger recall of Coca-Cola products across Europe announced on Monday.
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, the firm's bottling partner, said the risk of illness was "very low".
The affected cans carry production codes from 328 GE to 338 GE on their base. Meanwhile, the company confirmed that most Coca-Cola products, including standard cans and all glass and plastic bottles sold in the UK, were not affected by the recall.
The UK recall follows the removal of Coca-Cola products from shelves in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
An unnamed company spokesperson quoted by the AFP news agency stated that higher chlorate levels were discovered during routine testing at the company's production facility in Ghent, Belgium.
Coca-Cola stated that only five product lines had been shipped to Britain at the time, all of which had already been sold, and that authorities had been alerted. However, the company confirmed Wednesday a UK recall after "ongoing dialogue with the UK Food Standards Agency."
Chlorate can form when chlorine-based disinfectants are used in water treatment and food processing.
Exposure to high levels of chlorate can lead to health issues, including thyroid problems, particularly in children and infants.
NHS and private nutritionist Caron Grazette told the BBC 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 recent research into chlorate highlights its potential effects on humans when consumed in excess, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and a reduced ability of the blood to absorb oxygen. However, the company said the risk to consumers was small.
"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, and we apologize for any inconvenience this has caused," it said, in a statement.
