Coca-Cola has recalled its drinks in some countries across Europe because they contain “high levels” of the chemical chlorate.
The company said in a statement that it was focusing on Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. It added that only five product lines had been shipped to Britain and had already been sold.
The affected products include the Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Tropico and Minute Maid brands, the Belgian branch of Coca-Cola’s international bottling and distribution operation said.
Chlorates can be produced when chlorine-based disinfectants are used in water treatment and food processing.
“An independent expert analysis concludes that any associated risk to consumers is very low,” a spokesperson told the BBC.
Coca-Cola said it had not received any customer complaints in the UK and that it was “informing and cooperating with the authorities”.
The company added that the issue affected “a very small number of imported cans” of Appletizer, Coca-Cola Original Taste, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke and Sprite Zero. Coca-Cola said they could be traced to the base of the cans, with product codes ranging from 328 GE to 338 GE.
Anne Grevett of the Food Standards Agency said it was investigating.
“If we identify any unsafe food, we will take steps to remove it and inform consumers,” she added.
High levels of chlorate exposure can cause health problems, including thyroid problems, particularly in children and infants.
Karen Grasset, an NHS and private nutritionist, told the BBC: “We need to question whether we want to be ingesting chemicals used in soft drinks, even in small amounts, that are used to make fireworks and disinfectants.”
The effects of chlorate on humans when ingested in large quantities include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and a reduction in the blood’s ability to absorb oxygen, Ms Grasset said, citing recent research into the chemical.
Routine tests at the company’s manufacturing plant in Ghent, Belgium, found high levels of chlorate, the AFP news agency quoted an unnamed company spokesman as saying.
According to the AFP news agency, most of the unsold products have been removed from shelves, and the rest are in the process of being recalled.
A Coca-Cola spokesperson said it “considers the quality and safety of its products its top priority.”