Coca-Cola recalls thousands of cans over plastic, chemical contamination risks
Coca-Cola has issued recalls in the U.S. and U.K. due to plastic contamination and elevated chlorate levels in select beverage batches.
USA – Coca-Cola has recalled over 10,000 cans of its Original Coca-Cola beverage in the U.S. due to plastic contamination.
The recall, first announced by a manufacturing partner on March 6, has been classified as a Class II recall by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), signaling a potential health risk.
An FDA Class II recall indicates that while the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health effects, the likelihood of severe harm is low.
The affected batch includes 864 12-packs of 12-ounce Original Coca-Cola cans produced by Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, LLC in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. These products were distributed in Illinois and Wisconsin.
The recalled soda comes in 12-count packs with a UPC of “0 49000-00634 6” on individual cans and a UPC of “0 49000-02890 4” on packaging. The expiration date on the affected cans is September 29, 2025.
A spokesperson for Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling stated, “The cases are being withdrawn because they did not meet our high-quality standards. We are taking this voluntary action because nothing is more important to us than providing high-quality products to the people who drink our beverages.”
Recalls in the UK
Meanwhile, Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) has initiated a separate recall in the U.K. involving two imported batches of 6x250ml Appletiser multipacks and a small number of imported cans of Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke, and Sprite Zero.
These beverages may contain elevated chlorate levels, posing a food safety risk, particularly for individuals sensitive to chlorate or those with iodine deficiencies.
The affected Coca-Cola products were sold in taller can formats distributed to cafes and restaurants in the U.K.
The recalled products have best-before dates of November 30, 2025, and May 31, 2025, with specific production codes ranging from 328 GE to 338 GE.
The impacted Appletiser multipacks carry best-before dates of November 30 and December 31, 2025.
In a statement, CCEP said, “The quality and safety of our products is our top priority, and we’re sorry that on this occasion, a small number of our products have not met our high standards, and we apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.”
Tina Potter, head of incidents at the U.K. Food Standards Agency (FSA), confirmed that while the risk is low, adverse health effects cannot be ruled out for consumers particularly sensitive to chlorate.
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