Read This If You Recently Bought Coca-Cola Products
On December 10, the Coca Cola Company recalled 7,475 cases of Minute Maid products that had been distributed in the following eight states along or adjacent to the East coast: Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, according to Food Safety News (which named the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as its source). The reason cited for the recall was the potential presence of metal objects, specifically bolts and/or washers.
This was not the only recent recall of Coca Cola products for the possible presence of metal objects, however. On November 24, Coca Cola recalled certain 12-packs of Coke and Sprite, all of them distributed in Southeastern states, due to the "potential presence of foreign matter," according to an unclassified memo from the U.S Department of Defense's Defense Logistics Agency and a notice to U.S. Armed Forces Commissaries.
Both recalls are classified by the FDA as Class II, which mean "exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote" (via FDA). And in all cases, the long shelf-life of these beverages means that you may have some of the recalled products in your home without even realizing it. So, if you recently bought Coca-Cola products, including Minute Maid, Sprite, and Coke, please do read on.
What to do if you think you might have a recalled Coca-Cola product
If you're reading this because you recently bought Coca-Cola products, including Minute Maid, Sprite, and Coke, the first thing to do is to determine if the products you bought are subject to recent Class II recalls (via BGR). If you live in one of the eight East coast states mentioned, you will want to check your pantry for the following Minute Maid products (via Food Safety News): Minute Maid Berry Punch in a 59 Fl. oz. (1.8 QT) 1.75 L bottle. (Unit UPC: 025000047664 and Case UPC: 025000047671); Minute Maid Strawberry Lemonade, 59 Fl. oz.(1.8 Qt) 1.75L, (Unit UPC: 025000019708 and Case UPC: 025000019760); and Minute Maid Fruit Punch, 59 fl. oz.(1.8 QT)1.75 L (Unit UPC: 025000047725 and Case UPC: 025000047732).
And if you live anywhere in the Southeastern U.S., particularly if you purchase your groceries at a Department of Defense Commissary, you'll want to check your pantry for: Fridge Packs (12 to a pack) of Coca-Cola 12 ounce cans, with a Date Code of "AUG 1522 WM B;" Fridge Packs (12 to a pack) of Coca-Cola 12 ounce cans, with a Date Code of "AUG 1522 WM C;" and Fridge Packs (12 to a pack) of Sprite 12 ounce cans, with a Date Code of "AUG 1522 WM B."
If you have any of these, you're advised to stop drinking them immediately and either throw out the product or seek a refund (via BGR).