Coca Cola extends recall to include Diet Sprite, Kinley
Soft drink company now issuing recall of additional production runs following recent recall of Diet Coca Cola. Large bottles of Diet Sprite and Kinley Soda, and glass bottles and cans of Coca Cola and Diet Coca Cola are pulled from shelves
Coca Cola Israel is again clearing the shelves after additional defects were found in some of its products. The company is recalling additional production runs of 1.5 liter bottles of Coca Cola and Diet Coca Cola from supermarket chains and neighborhood shops. In addition, glass bottles and cans of Coca Cola, glass bottles of Kinley Soda, and bottles of Diet Sprite are also on the recall list, according to a statement issued Tuesday by the company.
The company's statement said, "Pursuant to the company's notifications made in recent days about the quality issue resulting from a malfunction at our carbon dioxide supplier, it has come to our attention that the defective gas was used in our factory for producing products between the dates of November 17 at 10 pm to November 23 at 5:30 pm.
"Most of the products made between these times were stopped before leaving the factory. In addition to this, from the time the malfunction was discovered, the company has been recalling products that managed to go to market. At this point, negligible amounts of the product are still on the market, if at all."
The damaged products
Coca Cola also said: "Following is a list of the products and their expiration dates that the consumers are asked not to consume, but instead to call consumer service at 1-800-587-587 to receive a replacement product."
Coca Cola, 1.5 liter bottles
Expiration dates: March 3, 2010; March 18, 2010; March 19, 2010; March 22, 2010; March 23, 2010
Diet Coca Cola, 1.5 liter bottles
Expiration dates: March 17, 2010; March 18, 2010; March 19, 2010; March 22, 2010; March 23, 2010
Diet Sprite, 1.5 liter bottles
Expiration dates: March 22, 2010
Diet Coca Cola, 350 ml glass bottles
Expiration dates: April 21, 2010, April 22, 2010
Coca Cola, 330 ml cans
Expiration dates: July 21, 2010
Kinley Soda, 250 ml glass bottles
Expiration dates: March 18, 2010, March 19, 2010
"Products from any other date are okay and can be enjoyed. We again emphasize that there is no risk to consumers' health. Publication of the above list is meant to remove all doubt regarding the quality of our products. The Coca Cola Company apologizes for the inconvenience to the public and thanks its customers for their understanding."
Consumers noticed it first
The above list joins three production runs that were already recalled marked with expiration dates March 18, 19, and 22.
A consumer from the center of the country contacted Ynet about a number of 1.5 liter bottles of Coca Cola emanating an unfamiliar smell. The consumer purchased the product in Rishon Lezion on Sunday and claimed that she detected "a smell of sewage coming from the bottle."
"The expiration date on the bottles was March 23," she said. "In other words, it wasn't one of the dates taken off the shelves. What makes me so mad is that after I saw media reports on the damaged bottles, I bought two bottles, and both of them, not just one, were defective."
The consumer contacted Coca Cola's consumer relations department and was told that she would be compensated and that someone would come to collect the damaged bottles from her.
"The smell is really intolerable," she said. "I am addicted to Diet Coke. What am I going to do now? In any case, what's important to me is that other consumers won't be hurt."
