Tejal Somvanshi
A routine test at Coca-Cola’s Belgian factory found high levels of a chemical called chlorate in several popular drinks. The company is now pulling these products off shelves across six European countries.
The problem affects well-known drinks like Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, and Minute Maid that were distributed since November. You can find the production code on the bottom of the can or bottle – products with codes between 328 GE and 338 GE are part of this recall according to Belgium’s food safety regulator, AFSCA.
Chlorate appears as a byproduct when chlorine-based disinfectants are used to keep water and food processing equipment clean. While small amounts are common in food processing, excessive levels can cause health concerns, especially for children.
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“We need to question whether or not we want to digest chemicals in soft drinks which are used in fireworks and disinfectants, however small the quantity,” says Caron Grazette, an NHS and private nutritionist. She explains that excessive chlorate can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and limit the blood’s ability to absorb oxygen.
A 2015 European Food Safety Authority opinion highlighted that long-term exposure to chlorate posed potential health concerns, particularly for children with mild or moderate iodine deficiency.
Coca-Cola says most of the affected drinks have already been removed from stores. While they won’t say exactly how many drinks are involved, they admit it’s “a considerable quantity.” In Britain, five different product lines were sold before the issue was identified.
The Food Standards Agency in Britain is investigating the situation. Anne Gravett from the agency states: “If we identify any unsafe food, we’ll take action to ensure it is removed and alert consumers.”
So far, no one has reported getting sick from these drinks. Coca-Cola’s independent expert analysis suggests the health risk is “very low,” but they’re taking precautionary measures to ensure public safety.
