What is chlorate? The chemical that has seen Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta removed from supermarket shelves
A number of fizzy drinks have been pulled from the shelves across the UK and Europe over a concern they contain high levels of chlorate. A select number of Coca-Cola, Fanta, and Sprite cans and bottles that were distributed across Belgium, Britain, France Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands since November have been affected.
Five product lines had been shipped to Britain and have already been sold. Higher levels of the chemical were found during routine testing. The Food Standards Agency are now carrying out an investigation to see if any of the products in the UK contain high levels of chlorate.
Anne Gravett of the FSA said on Monday evening: "The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is investigating if any Coca-Cola products containing 'higher levels' of a chemical called chlorate are on the UK market. If we identify any unsafe food, we'll take action to ensure it is removed and alert consumers.'
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Coca-Cola's bottling partner, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, said it had received 'no consumer complaints or concerns in Great Britain'. Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here
Chlorate is a chemical that is often present in food and water as a result of the chlorine-based disinfectants that are used in water treatment and food processing. It is a by-product of chlorine, which most people will recognise as a water treatment used for swimming pools, and jacuzzis, etc.
Exposure to small amounts of chlorate is usually harmless, but higher levels could pose risks to some people, particularly infants and young children. It can have an impact on the function of the thyroid.
While the main concern is with continued high exposure, a single-day intake is unlikely to cause serious harm, the European Food Safety Authority reported in 2015. Coca-Cola has not disclosed the levels that were detected in the affected batch.
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