Massive recall of Coca-Cola drinks: what is chlorate and what are the risks of consuming it ?

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Belgium launched a massive recall on Monday 27 January of several brands, including Fuze Tea, Fanta, Minute Maid, Coca-Cola, Nalu, Royal Bliss, Sprite and Tropico. The bottler recommends not consuming these products and invites customers to return them to the store for a refund.

The massive recall launched on Monday 27 January by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Belgium concerns the brands Fuze Tea, Fanta, Minute Maid, Coca Cola, Nalu, Royal Bliss, Sprite and Tropico. The bottler asks not to consume these products and to return them to the point of sale for a refund.

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The cause ? Too high a chlorate content. Banned as a pesticide in 2009, chlorate can be found as residues in food. “Chlorate can be present in food following the use of chlorinated water for food processing or for disinfecting food processing equipment”, explained the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2015.

What are the risks of exposure to this chemical compound ?

Acute exposure, i.e. a high intake over a single day, can, according to EFSA, be toxic to humans. “It can limit the blood's ability to absorb oxygen, leading to kidney failure.” However, acute exposure corresponding to a chlorate intake of 36 milligrams per kg of body weight per day, “the highest estimates of acute dietary exposure for all age groups were below this safe intake”.

Chronic exposure can block the absorption of iodine by the thyroid. Iodine deficiency can cause abnormalities in growth and development and thyroid disease. In this case, it is mainly children, and in particular those with mild or moderate iodine deficiency, who are at greatest risk.

According to a 2015 article, EFSA has set a tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 3 micrograms per kg (µg/kg) of body weight per day for long-term exposure to chlorate in food. “The highest estimates of chronic exposure for infants, toddlers and other children (up to 10 years) are above the TDI, indicating a concern for all children with mild or moderate iodine deficiency.”

However, according to a message from the Belgian Poison Centre on X, “the risk to consumers remains very low. If you have consumed a small amount of these drinks, there is no cause for concern.”

More information on the affected products: https://favv-afsca.be/fr/produits/rappel-de-coca-cola-europacific-partners-belgium