Beverages Containing Chlorate Distributed
Confirmed at Production Facility in Belgium
Coca-Cola States "Low Risk to Consumers"
A large-scale recall has been conducted on beverage products after high levels of chlorate were detected in Coca-Cola distributed in the European region.
According to foreign media including AFP and BBC on the 27th (local time), Coca-Cola Belgium announced that since November last year, beverages containing high levels of chlorate have been distributed in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Luxembourg. The regions mainly affected by the recall are Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, and the products in which chlorate was detected include Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, Minute Maid, and Tropico.
This fact was confirmed during a regular inspection of the Coca-Cola production facility located in Ghent, Belgium. Chlorate is mainly produced when chlorine-based disinfectants, widely used in water treatment and food processing, are used. Coca-Cola stated regarding the detected chlorate levels, "There is no exact figure, but it is true that the amount is considerable," and explained, "Most of the affected unsold products have already been removed from store shelves, and measures are being taken to recall all remaining products from the market." They also added, "According to expert analysis, the risk to consumers is very low."
However, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced in 2015 that long-term exposure to chlorate could adversely affect children's health. Karon Grazette, a nutritionist at the UK's National Health Service (NHS), citing the latest research, stated, "Excessive consumption of foods containing chlorate can cause side effects such as diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea," and added, "It may also reduce the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity." She further pointed out, "Chlorate is a chemical used in the production of disinfectants or fireworks. No matter how small the amount, it is a cause for concern."
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