Consumers across Florida, Alabama and Mississippi are being advised to check their homes and discard any potentially contaminated Coca-Cola products after the company issued a recall on nearly 2,000 cases of Diet Coke, Sprite and Fanta cans.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the recall in November 2022 due to “potential foreign material contamination” found in certain 12-ounce aluminum cans packed in 12-can fridge packs. While the nature of the contamination has not been specified, the move comes amid heightened concern over food and beverage safety.
“We take these matters extremely seriously and have implemented a comprehensive plan to identify and eliminate the root cause,” said a spokesperson for Coca-Cola’s local bottling operation.
Impacted Brands and Lot Numbers
The recall impacts 12-packs of Diet Coke, Sprite and Fanta sold in cardboard fridge packs in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi.
Specific lot numbers include:
- Diet Coke, best by 01/29/24, lot no. JAN2924MBD3, UPC no. 49000028911
- Fanta, best by 07/29/24, lot no. JUL2924MBD3, UPC no. 49000030730
- Sprite, best by 07/29/24, lot no. JUL2924MBD3, UPC no. 49000028928
Consumers are advised to check any products matching these details and immediately discard them.
Recall Efforts Complete, Per Company
Coca-Cola has confirmed to media outlets that “all recall activities in the local markets are complete and no impacted product remains available for purchase.” This suggests an isolated contamination issue that has now been fully contained.
Still, the company advises that consumers in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi check any Diet Coke, Sprite and Fanta 12-packs purchased recently and discard any that match the lot numbers above.
“We apologize for any inconvenience and urge consumers to reach out with any questions or request a refund for discarded products,” said the spokesperson.
This follows strict new standards recently imposed by the FDA to better protect public health and prevent foodborne diseases. However, contamination issues still occasionally occur despite stringent protocols.
History of Soda Recalls
While uncommon, this is not the first time potentially contaminated soda products have sparked public concern.
- In November 2022, certain orange vanilla Coca-Cola products were recalled over cap issues that could cause the bottles to explode.
- In 2021, multiple sports drinks and sodas sold on U.S. military bases were recalled due to contamination with a carcinogenic compound called benzene.
- In 2020, Canada Dry ginger ale sold across the U.S. was recalled for containing mold.
So while rare, occasional manufacturing issues can lead to contaminated or unsafe soda products. Rigorous testing protocols typically catch these problems before widespread distribution. But in some cases, as here, contaminated products make it to retail outlets before being detected.
Ongoing FDA Focus on Safety
The recall comes amid growing public concern over food and beverage safety as supply chains struggle to bounce back post-pandemic.
In response, the FDA has ramped up facility inspections, testing programs and regulatory authority. The agency warns it will use its full legal powers to order recalls and levy penalties when companies fail to meet strict safety standards.
Coca-Cola maintains that it acted swiftly to contain the issue and prevent any risk to consumers in this case. Still, the soda scare serves as an urgent reminder for manufacturers to remain vigilant when it comes to product quality and safety protocols.
With new FDA oversight powers on the horizon, companies failing to ensure product purity do so at their own peril.
