Coca-Cola recalls drinks over chlorate levels

Coca-Cola has issued a recall for several canned and bottled drinks due to elevated levels of chlorate. The recall affects certain packages of Coca-Cola, as well as beverages under The Coca-Cola Company’s other brands, including Fuze Tea, Fanta Cassis, Minute Maid, and Hawai Tropical. These products were sold in stores and vending machines across the Netherlands. Consumers can return affected products to the point of purchase for a refund, the company announced.

Among the affected products are 0.15-liter cans of Coca-Cola, with a best-before date of November 30, 2025, and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar No Caffeine cans, which are safe to consume only until May 31, 2025. Additionally, the recall includes 1-liter glass bottles of Coca-Cola with a best-before date of June 30, 2025.

For Fuze Tea, the recall targets 0.33-liter cans of Peach Hibiscus, Sparkling, and Mango Camomile. The Peach Hibiscus and Sparkling variants are labeled with a best-before date of December 31, 2025, while Mango Camomile cans carry a September 30, 2025 expiration date. Smaller 0.2-liter glass bottles of Fuze Tea Green and Fuze Tea Peach Hibiscus are also included, with best-before dates of July 31, 2025, and November 30, 2025, respectively.

Other recalled drinks include 0.2-liter glass bottles of Fanta Cassis and Minute Maid Apple, both of which have a best-before date of November 30, 2025. Hawai Tropical is also impacted, with its 0.25-liter cans listed as safe for consumption only until November 30, 2025.

Chlorate, once used as a pesticide, is now banned for such purposes. The substance can also form as a byproduct when chlorine-based disinfectants are used in the food and water industries. According to the Voedingscentrum, the risk of illness from chlorate exposure is extremely small. However, people with thyroid disorders or severe iodine deficiencies are more susceptible to potential health effects.

Coca-Cola has urged consumers to check their packaging and return any products that match the affected production codes for a full refund.