Coca-Cola HBC recalls soda bottles in Austria due to potential metal fragment contamination

AUSTRIA – Coca-Cola HBC, the Austrian subsidiary of the global soft drink giant, has initiated a large-scale recall of half-liter bottles of several popular carbonated beverages, including Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, and MezzoMix.  

The recall, described as a “precautionary measure,” was prompted by a technical issue in production that may have introduced metal fragments into a limited number of 0.5-liter PET bottles.  

The affected products carry best-before dates between February 4, 2025, and April 12, 2025. 

The recall, one of the largest in Austria in recent years, was confirmed by the Vienna Market Authority, with spokesperson Alexander Hengl labeling it the country’s “largest recall in 25 years.”  

While Coca-Cola HBC did not specify the exact volume of bottles affected, media sources estimate the figure to be approximately 28 million bottles.  

In a public advisory, Coca-Cola HBC cautioned against consuming any potentially affected products, citing a possible health risk associated with the metal fragment contamination. 

The recall is being carried out in close coordination with Austrian regulatory authorities, who are actively involved in enforcing the product removal.  

Hengl noted that the Vienna Market Authority’s team of 80 inspectors is working diligently to ensure retailers are compliant in taking the bottles off shelves.  

He added that the recall process is expected to be completed in the coming weeks. The fate of the recalled bottles has yet to be determined. 

Coca-Cola HBC’s Austrian subsidiary emphasized the company’s rapid response to the situation, explaining that all potentially impacted inventory in warehouses was immediately put on hold.  

“As soon as we were aware, we took swift steps, in collaboration with the Austrian authorities, to announce this product recall. Precise numbers impacted will be dependent on stock remaining on shelf,” a company spokesperson stated. 

This recall follows on the heels of an ongoing investigation by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Competition Commission into Coca-Cola’s business practices in Africa.  

The commission suspects that The Coca-Cola Company may have engaged in restrictive bottling and distribution agreements that could be limiting trade and competition within its 21 member states in Africa. 

Meanwhile, Coca-Cola’s Q3 2024 earnings report revealed a 1 percent decline in net revenue to US$11.9 billion, attributed largely to a US$919 million charge related to its 2020 acquisition of fairlife, LLC, and unfavorable currency exchange rates.  

The company’s operating margin also fell to 21.2 percent, down from 27.4 percent year-over-year.  

Nonetheless, Coca-Cola remains optimistic about its fiscal year outlook, projecting an organic revenue growth of 10 percent and an increase in earnings per share by 5 to 6 percent, in line with previous guidance. 

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