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In January 2025 Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) issued a voluntary recall of numerous Coca-Cola branded products distributed in Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The recall was launched due to the presence of elevated levels of chlorate, a chemical by-product that can result from chlorine-based disinfectants used to treat water. Contaminants like this are a serious issue for beverage product development, and this highlights the need for stricter controls in soft drink product development solutions, specifically when it is about sourcing water for formulation to protect consumer health and be precise.

Coca-Cola EP Recalls Products in Europe for High Chlorate Levels

Recall August 05, 2025

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In January 2025 Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) issued a voluntary recall of numerous Coca-Cola branded products distributed in Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The recall was launched due to the presence of elevated levels of chlorate, a chemical by-product that can result from chlorine-based disinfectants used to treat water. Contaminants like this are a serious issue for beverage product development, and this highlights the need for stricter controls in soft drink product development solutions, specifically when it is about sourcing water for formulation to protect consumer health and be precise.

Health Risks Associated with Chlorate

Chlorate contamination poses potential health risks because the chemical can disrupt certain functions of the thyroid, especially when the risk of disruption is higher for vulnerable populations, such as newborns and infants – where thyroid disruption can lead to development deficiencies. The incident demonstrates the need for proper formulation and development of SD (soft drinks) and RTD energy drink products, so that proper quality control will limit exposure to harmful contaminants.  

Products Affected by the Recall

The products that are part of the recall are various beverage lines that fall under the Coca-Cola brand umbrella, including:

  • Coca-Cola
  • Fanta
  • Sprite
  • Minute Maid

These contaminated products were primarily sold in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, but they flowed into the UK in limit quantities via multipacks or cans sold at local cafés and restaurants. The recall covers several categories of soft drink carbonated beverage and juice, meaning that across the soft drink product development solutions of Coca-Cola EP the breadth of contamination was wide.

Company Actions and Regulatory Compliance

Coca-Cola EP acted swiftly to withdraw the affected products from retail and online channels. The recall aligned with EU food safety protocols to protect public health. The proactive recall process underlines the essential nature of compliance and pre-market quality testing in caffeine energy drink and other beverage categories.

Instructions for Retailers and Consumers

Retailers and distributors have been directed to immediately cease selling and remove recalled food products from their inventories. Consumers who purchased the recalled products are advised to:

  • Review the lot codes to determine whether their product is part of the recall
  • Stop using any of the affected beverages in their possession
  • Dispose of any items that have been recalled correctly to avoid health risks [1] [2]

List of Affected Products

The recall affects several Coca-Cola EP products, including:

Brand

Product

Problem

Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola (various packaging formats)

Elevated chlorate levels

Fanta

Fanta (all variants)

Elevated chlorate levels

Sprite

Sprite (all variants)

Elevated chlorate levels

Minute Maid

Minute Maid (selected products)

Elevated chlorate levels

Fuze Tea

Fuze Tea (selected products)

Elevated chlorate levels

Tropico

Tropico (selected products)

Elevated chlorate levels

Appletiser

Appletiser (selected products)

Elevated chlorate levels

 

These products primarily directed to Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, while limited distribution was made into the UK, which impacted multipacks and cans sold through local cafes and restaurants. [3]

Reason for Recall

The quality control tests highlighted a concern with chlorate levels in some batches of Coca-Cola EP beverages, which is a chemical byproduct resulting from chlorine disinfectants in water treatments used in food processing. Chlorate is not put in as an ingredient but nevertheless can also harm you, especially with long-term or excessive exposure. If a product has chlorate levels, the safety of the product is a concern, especially for sensitive populations like children and infants, which may negatively affect a child’s thyroid function.

Coca-Cola EP Recalls blog (1)

Some of the health effects associated with chlorate exposure include:

  • Thyroid dysfunction (especially in infants and children).
  • Gastrointestinal effects (nausea and vomiting).
  • Potentially long-term health effects (potentially leading to cancer) if consumed long term.

Ultimately, these findings call for further screening of possible contaminants as part of the beverage product development process, particularly in categories such as caffeinated energy drink and soft drink carbonated beverage. [4]

Recall product:

Product name: COCA-COLA

product image:

 

SOURCE : Coca-cola classic

Health Risks from High Chlorate Exposure

The risks to health associated with chlorate exposure in food and food services include:

Health Effect

Details

Thyroid Dysfunction

Elevated chlorate levels can interfere with iodine uptake, leading to thyroid problems.

Gastrointestinal Issues

Nausea, vomiting, and other stomach-related discomforts can result from chlorate exposure.

Neurological Effects

Short-term exposure can lead to dizziness, headaches, and confusion.

Potential Cancer Risk

Long-term exposure to chlorate has been linked to certain types of cancer, particularly blood-related cancers.

 

Chlorate does not appear on food labels so there is no likelihood of intentional repeated exposure—especially through beverages that may be consumed several times per day. This strengthens the need for controlled and safe formulation and development for SD and RTD energy drink categories. [5]

Coca-Cola EP Response

Coca-Cola EP was able to conduct a voluntary product recall on all the contaminated products when contamination was discovered through testing. The company:

  • Worked closely with local health departments on assessing the extent of contamination.
  • Working to ensure that there is no future products with elevated chlorate sold.
  • Removed all impacted products from the grocery shelves in Europe.

The recall operation has exemplified the impact of preventive practices in soft drink product-development solutions given that product safety correlates with brand integrity.  [6]

Consumer Guidelines

Coca-Cola EP and health authorities have issued the following guidelines for consumers who purchased the affected products:

Action

Details

Stop Consumption

Consumers are advised to immediately stop consuming the affected products.

Check Lot Codes

Consumers should check the lot codes ranging from 328 GE to 338 GE on the bottom of cans or on the neck/label of glass bottles.

Return or Dispose of Products

Affected products should be returned to the point of purchase for a refund or safely disposed of.

Report Adverse Reactions

Consumers who experience any adverse health effects, such as nausea or thyroid-related symptoms, should report them to Coca-Cola’s customer service or local health authorities.

Consumer Safety Alert

The FDA issued a consumer safety alert on recalls and further clarified actions consumer’s that purchased the affected acne products should take:

Stop using:

  • Consumers should stop use of acne products immediately as they recalled. Return or dispose.
  • Consumers should return the affected products to the merchant or dispose of them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Coca-Cola’s Action Plan

To prevent a similar outcome from occurring in the future, Coca-Cola EP has proceeded with the implementation of a multi-step corrective plan:

  • Invest in improving quality control systems, specifically for their soft drink carbonated beverage line and ready-to-drink energy drink
  • Increase the frequency of testing and verification of the treatment of water.
  • Maintain effective communication with the consumer, when recalling the product, to let them know how to safely dispose of the items.

Consumer Safety Recall Notice

Consumers are requested to

  • Stop using the recalled items immediately.
  • Remove and/or dispose of the products properly.
  • Seek medical attention, if you feel sick.
  • Report cases to Coca-Cola EP or health departments. [7] [8]

 

Conclusion:

This case reinforces the vital importance of strict safety practices in the beverage product development industry. Coca-Cola EP’s fast and decisive response and compliance indicates a real commitment to consumer safety. Food Research Labcan partner with you ensure your own brand is compliant, safe and based on science.

 

FRL has solutions for brands at every stage in the value chain – product development solutions for soft drinks and regulatory documentation/risk assessment for the formulation and development of SD, RTD energy drink and caffeine energy drink categories.

Contact FRL today to protect your products and your consumer confidence.

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