Coca-Cola issues urgent recall over chemical contamination — here's what you need to know

Coca-Cola is scrambling to pull some of its products from shelves after discovering that they may be contaminated. While the potential contamination does not seem to pose a serious threat to public health, it makes it even harder to trust big corporations with our safety. 

What's happening?

Coca-Cola recently detected abnormally high levels of chlorate in bottles and cans from its production plant in Belgium, according to a report from The Associated Press. Now, soft drinks from that plant are being pulled from shelves in the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium. Coca-Cola also contacted officials in Great Britain, France, and Germany, as they may have received contaminated products.

The contamination has been tracked to a single water treatment container at the production plant in Belgium. This is good news, as it provides a clear way to track potentially contaminated products and pull them as quickly as possible.

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Why is this contamination important?

The chlorate detected in these products comes from disinfectants used in water treatment. In high enough levels, it can cause vomiting, serious illness, or thyroid issues in children.

Fortunately, the levels of chlorate detected in these Coca-Cola products are not high enough to pose a serious threat to public health.

"You have to have consumed so many different bottles of it to possibly see an effect," said Philippe Jorens, a poisons and critical care professor at Belgium's Antwerp University Hospital.

Regardless of how safe or unsafe such contamination is, it should be a red alert to consumers all over. So many of us are used to having no idea where or how our products are made and what they're made with. While the incident should not be taken as a cause for panic, it nonetheless highlights the danger of blindly trusting giant companies to keep us safe.

What's being done about contaminated products?

Coca-Cola is far from the only company issuing recalls for contaminated products. East West Tea Co. recently recalled nearly 900,000 tea bags containing higher-than-usual levels of pesticides. According to MasterControl, recalls have risen 115% since 2018.

Opting for less processed and locally sourced products is one way to avoid these dangerous products. Another great option is to grow your own food. Beyond that, remaining aware of recalls and of company safety reputations can help ensure that your food and drink are safe.

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