Food Poisoning Prompts Croatia to Recall Some Coca-Cola Products
Croatia took some Coca-Cola products off the market over food poisoning incidents that occurred in three cities.
No Need to Panic
Health authorities in the country ordered the giant beverage company to take back some of its products. At the same time, they prohibited its distribution in the market and groceries following several cases of poisoning.
“In the interest of public health and in order to protect people’s health, due to suspicions about food safety… the health inspectorate has temporarily banned the trading company from distribution on the market and ordered the recall of suspect products,” said the Croatian General Inspectorate in a press release.
The Croatian Institute for Public Health laboratories are currently examining samples of numerous drinks that Coca-Cola Croatia has distributed. This includes mineral water and sodas.
The General Inspectorate didn’t disclose the extent of products covered by the recall. Nevertheless, the beverage company chose to pull out a succession of the original Coca-Cola products, including two cycles of sparkling mineral water.
According to Coca-Cola Croatia, it complied with the Inspectorate’s instructions, despite without demonstration of any irregularities in the products or their production.
Croatian Minister of Health, Vili Beros said that several cases were also reported in Varazdin. In Zagreb, eight people were admitted to the hospital, but most have tolerably mild symptoms.
He stated the 19-year-old victim from Rijeka was in stable condition but still suffered from severe injuries. The victim has a damaged digestive tract due to alleged corrosive substances. She was in a café when the incident happened.
The minister criticised the dissemination of social media’s false information regarding the incidents. He said they are only causing people to panic.
As a preventive measure, Fortenova, Croatia’s largest food distribution company, has recalled all non-alcoholic drinks from the Coca-Cola company.
Some Recalled Coca-Cola Products
Coca-Cola Croatia said it became aware of a solitary case, encompassing a 330 mL glass bottle of Romerquelle Emotion Blueberry Pomegranate drink.
“We are temporarily recalling one batch of Coca-Cola Original Taste 500ml in plastic packaging (PET) from the market in accordance with an oral decision of the State Inspectorate of the Republic of Croatia, a series of Products Coca-Coca Original Taste, carbonated soft drink, 500 ml PET produced on October 11, 2023, with an expiration date until April 11, 2024,” said Coca-Cola Croatia in an emailed statement.
While identifying what caused the illnesses, the health minister advised the people to drink tap water in the meantime.
