The Food and Drug Administration has recalled three popular Coca-Cola products from three states.
The federal agency released a new advisory warning that 12-pack cases of certain sodas distributed in Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida have potentially been contaminated with “foreign materials.” The agency did not provide additional details about what the materials may be.
In total, 417 cases of Diet Coke, 14 cases of Orange Fanta, and 1,557 cases of Sprite have been pulled from shelves. Coca-Cola reportedly began voluntarily recalling potentially impacted products in November.
The 12-packs involved are fridge cases, the rectangular cardboard boxes with perforations designed to sit on a refrigerator shelf and allow one can to be removed at a time.
The recalled Diet Coke cases have a best-by date of 01/29/24 with lot no. JAN2924MBD3 and UPC no. 49000028911. The best-by date for the Fantas is 07/29/24 and the lot number is JUL2924MBD3 and UPC 49000030730. The impacted Sprite cans are best by 07/29/24 and are from lot no. JUL2924MBD3 and UPC 49000028928.
The FDA classified the recall as a Class II situation, meaning that use or exposure to the product in question could cause “temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”
A spokesperson from Coca-Cola told People Magazine that “all recall activities in the local markets are complete” and that “no impacted product remains in the market.”
Coca-Cola announced in February that it would raise the price of its products.
“Coca-Cola's average selling price rose 11% for the full year ended Dec. 31, while PepsiCo's increased 14%,” reported Reuters. “Unit case volumes for Coca-Cola fell 1% in the quarter, hit by a drop in demand in Europe, where higher fuel and power costs have sparked a cost-of-living crisis.”
According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the price of a 12-pack of 12-ounce cans of cola jumped from under 33 cents per can in May 2018 to 55 cents per can in November of 2023.
Diet Coke, in particular, is immensely popular in the United States. Unveiled in 1982, the diet soda was marketed not just to women on a diet but as a gender-neutral low-calorie option.
“While Diet Coke might now be up against the popularity of sparkling water brands like La Croix and the public’s increasing distaste for the word ‘diet,’ the beverage still seems to dominate the pop culture conversation,” reports The Take Out. “Over the years plenty of famous people have gushed about their love for Diet Coke—fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld admitted to drinking 10 cans of Diet Coke a day, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City cast member Lisa Barlow is rarely shown on screen without a Diet Coke in her hand, and earlier this year we discovered that Ben Affleck has a Diet Coke soda fountain in his home.”
