Coca-Cola Drinks Recalled In Europe Over Chemical Chlorate Level

(Bloomberg) -- Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Plc has recalled a range of soft drinks including Coke, Fanta and Sprite in Europe over higher levels of the chemical chlorate.

Cans and bottles containing excess levels of the chemical have been distributed in Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK, Germany, France and Luxembourg since November, the Coca-Cola bottling partner told Agence France-Presse.

Consumers should return any can or bottle with production codes ranging from 328 GE to 338 GE inclusive, the company said in a statement on the Belgian regulator’s website.

Shares of the company opened up about 1% in early trading in London. The stock is up about 16% in the past 12 months.

The impact of the recall is likely limited, according to Edward Mundy, an analyst at Jefferies.

“We believe that the volume is small, and the majority of affected product has already been withdrawn,” he wrote in a note.

Britain’s Food Standards Agency is investigating if any of the affected products are on the UK market, said Anne Gravett of the UK Food Standards Agency.

“If we identify any unsafe food, we’ll take action to ensure it is removed and alert consumers,” she said.