Coca-Cola South Africa has recalled one of its popular drinks from stores over fears of contamination.
Appletiser, a sparkling apple juice, has been recalled because testing revealed a higher than acceptable level of patulin, which may cause illness if consumed.
Patulin is a mycotoxin, a naturally occurring toxin produced by certain moulds in foods, according to the World Health Organisation. It is usually found in fruits such as apples and apple juices that are mouldy. Mycotoxins like patulin can cause illness in humans and also pose a risk to livestock.
In a statement, Coca-Cola SA said following a standard quality testing routine, six specific batches of Appletiser were revealed to be outside of the acceptable standards.
“The health and wellbeing of our consumers is our primary concern and we have taken a decision to withdraw all affected stock from the market nationwide, with immediate effect. With our partners, Coca‑Cola Beverages South Africa and Coca‑Cola Peninsula Beverages, we are working with authorities to ensure all processes are followed as we continue our investigation to understand the cause of the problem,” the company said.
It added that consumers could return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.
“If anyone has purchased the Appletiser product from batches: BB 07NOV21, BB 30MAY22, BB 10JUN22, BB 18MAY22, BB 19MAY22, and BB 23MAY22, please contact the call centre on 0860 112 526 and request for the collection and exchange of the product. The batch numbers can be found on the top or bottom of the pack. We apologise for any inconvenience caused,” Coca-Cola SA said.
Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice, it added.