Yikes! Coca-Cola Recalls Toxic Soda In Europe
Reports indicate that Coca-Cola has announced a recall of some of its products in Europe after detecting higher levels of a chemical called “Chlorate.”
The affected cans and glass bottles were produced in Ghent, Belgium, and distributed in Britain, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
The problem was first detected during routine testing in November 2024, and by the end of December, five product lines had already been shipped out from Belgium (King, 2025).
According to Coca-Cola, the recalled cans include Appletiser, Coca-Cola Original Taste, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke, and Sprite Zero, with production codes from 328 GE to 338 GE. The codes can be found on the base of the can.
So far, they don’t have an exact number of recalled products, but Coca-Cola admits that it is ‘significant’ enough for this recall (Nadeem Badshah, 2025).
What are ‘Chlorates?’
Chlorates are a by-product of disinfectants like chlorine, which are used in food production facilities to sanitize equipment and surfaces.
Regulatory bodies like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have established guidelines to limit chlorate residues in food and drinking water.
The EU does not allow chlorate as a pesticide, so it is very strictly regulated in Europe (“Chlorate,” 2023).
How Do They End Up In Our Food?
There are still several ways these chemicals can end up in food.
Chlorinated water is commonly used in food production to wash and disinfect produce, poultry, and seafood. Residual chlorine can degrade into chlorate compounds over time, especially if the water is overchlorinated or stored improperly.
Small amounts of chlorate may remain on the food if these residues aren’t thoroughly rinsed.
Also, prolonged storage of foods treated with chlorine-based disinfectants can allow chlorates to accumulate, especially if the food or disinfectant solutions are not stored under recommended conditions.
An investigation will be conducted to determine the exact source of these Coca-Cola cans and how they ended up there.
Harmful Effects Of Chlorate
Chlorate is harmful to the body primarily because it is a strong oxidizing agent that can interfere with essential biological processes, particularly in the blood and cells.
Repeated exposure to low chlorate levels, such as through contaminated food or water, may lead to long-term health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations (those with pre-existing conditions).
Chlorate competes with iodine uptake in the thyroid gland, disrupting the production of thyroid hormones.
This is especially concerning for pregnant women (due to its effects on fetal development) and Infants and children (due to their reliance on proper thyroid function for growth and development).
