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Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has recalled a ‘small range’ of its Appletiser, Coca-Cola and Sprite cans in the UK because they may contain elevated levels of chlorate.

Earlier this week, it emerged that the company had recalled products across several of its beverage brands in Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands due to concerns over higher levels of the chemical chlorate.

The chemical is produced as a byproduct of chlorine-based disinfectants widely used in water treatment and food processing, and high levels of exposure can result in health issues including impaired thyroid function.

Following the recall in the three European countries, the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) launched an investigation to assess safety concerns for UK consumers, working with CCEP and relevant authorities.

In a statement, CCEP said it is recalling a ‘small number’ of imported cans of 6x250ml Appletiser multipacks which were sent only to UK supermarkets. It is also removing a ‘small amount’ of tall, imported cans of Coca-Cola Original Taste, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke and Sprite Zero, which it confirmed were sent only to cafés and restaurants ‘during a limited time period’.

CCEP stated that independent analysis concluded that the likelihood of associated risk of feeling temporarily unwell due to consumption of the recalled products is ‘very low,’ but encouraged anyone with an affected can to get in touch with its customer service team.

The affected cans have production codes from 328 GE to 338 GE, which can be found o the base of the can. Coca-Cola said the majority of its products. including standard cans, glass bottles and plastic bottles, were not impacted.

“The quality and safety of our products is our top priority and we’re sorry that on this occasion, a small number of our products have not met our high standards, and we apologise for any inconvenience this has caused,” the statement reads.

A statement from the FSA said that Coca-Cola’s recall of the impacted drinks is ‘precautionary’. It states that the higher levels of chlorate pose a ‘low food safety risk’ especially when only consumed occasionally, but that consumers who are more sensitive to chlorate and have pre-existing mild to moderate iodine deficiency may be more adversely affected.