Coca-Cola has recalled its drinks in some countries across Europe after detecting “higher levels” of the chemical chlorate.
Cans and glass bottles containing elevated levels of the substance were distributed in Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands since November, the company said on Monday.
It added that five product lines had been shipped to Britain at the end of last year and had already been sold.
Affected products include the Coke, Fanta, Minute Maid, Sprite and Tropico brands, according to the Belgian branch of Coca-Cola’s international bottling and distribution operation.
Chlorate can be found in foods as it derives from chlorine disinfectants widely used in water treatment and food processing.
Exposure to high levels of the chemical compound can cause health issues including thyroid problems, especially among children and babies.
In a 2015 scientific opinion, the European Food Safety Authority said long-term exposure to chlorate posed a potential health concern for children, especially those with mild or moderate iodine deficiency.
A Coca-Cola spokesperson told the BBC: “Independent expert analysis concludes that any associated risk for consumers is very low.”
Affected batches of Coke and Fuze Tea were delivered in France but currently the recall order did not apply to the French market, it added.
The company said it had not received any consumer complaints in Britain and that it had “alerted the authorities on this matter and will continue to collaborate with them”.
“We do not have a precise figure, but it is clear that it is a considerable quantity,” the firm said of the amount of drinks involved.
The higher levels of chlorate were discovered during routine testing at the company’s production facility in Ghent, north-west Belgium, the AFP news agency reported.
The majority of the affected and unsold products had been withdrawn from shelves, according to AFP, and the company was in the process of withdrawing the rest from the market.
Coca-Cola said it “considers the quality and safety of its products as its top priority”.
Anne Gravett, from the UK’s Food Standards Agency, said it was investigating.
She told the BBC: “If we identify any unsafe food, we’ll take action to ensure it is removed and alert consumers.”
