logo
Plant of Coca-Cola maker suspended for potential contamination in Brazil

Plant of Coca-Cola maker suspended for potential contamination in Brazil

Reuters04-06-2025
BRASILIA, June 4 (Reuters) - A plant owned by Brazilian soft drink firm Solar, which produces for Coca-Cola (KO.N), opens new tab, had a fault in its cooling system detected, leading production and bottling to be suspended as a precautionary measure, Brazil's government said on Wednesday.
Production was halted after authorities established a liquid used in the cooling process had come in contact with products being manufactured, Brazil's agriculture ministry said, in reference to an on-site inspection of the plant in Ceara state.
The liquid in question contains food-grade alcohol that does not pose a high health risk and does not contain toxic substances, the ministry added in a statement.
All of the products that may have been compromised remain in the company's inventory, Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro told a press conference in Brasilia, adding that there was no risk that the affected products could have reached supermarkets.
According to the ministry, the production suspension will be maintained until Solar enforces the necessary corrections and proves the elimination of all risks in the production process, which may occur as early as today.
Samples from about 9 million liters of soft drinks await laboratory analysis, which should be concluded in five days, the ministry said.
Solar and Coca-Cola did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Coke bottles bitter US economic formula
Coke bottles bitter US economic formula

Reuters

time4 days ago

  • Reuters

Coke bottles bitter US economic formula

NEW YORK, July 23 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Mexico is a frequent target of Donald Trump's ire, but he prefers the Coke sold there. After holding conversations with the president, Coca-Cola (KO.N), opens new tab unveiled plans to roll out a version of its signature soda using cane sugar, as it is sold south of the border, instead of corn syrup. Even setting aside the idea of the Oval Office occupant influencing one of the world's most successful recipes, it's a classic case of industrial policy gone awry. The $300 billion company has occasionally tinkered with the Coke formula over its 139-year lifespan, removing the cocaine, opens new tab that was originally included in 1903 and introducing a sweeter New Coke in 1985, which created a marketing disaster. After Coca-Cola and other carbonated beverage makers started using corn syrup for their U.S. products in the 1980s, the so-called Mexican Coke, bottled with purer sucrose, became a cultish find in supermarkets. Making it more widely available bubbles up a multitude of complications. Homegrown sugar – as Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey vowed to use – is pricey because the Department of Agriculture tightly controls production and limits imports. There have been levies on it since 1789, and the U.S. government started providing farmers with financing in 1981 to help underpin prices. It costs about 50% more today for domestic sugar than what's sold internationally, according to the Sweeteners Users Association trade group. There's also the matter of U.S. support for corn. It's the most subsidized crop in the country, with growers receiving some $3 billion of direct payments, insurance and loans from the government. The feed grain accounts for 30% of all U.S. agricultural assistance. Championing Coke with sugar muddles the various policy objectives while also inviting more imports from Mexico. Moreover, both ingredients contradict other White House positions. Although Trump guzzles Diet Coke, his Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Kennedy has denounced high fructose corn syrup and sugar as poison and wants to prevent low-income Americans from buying soda with their food assistance money. These clashes over Coke's recipe mainly serve to accentuate distasteful U.S. economic formulas. Follow Jennifer Saba on Bluesky, opens new tab and LinkedIn, opens new tab. Coca-Cola said on July 22 that it plans to roll out a version of its signature soda sweetened with U.S. cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup after President Donald Trump issued a statement on July 16 saying he had been discussing the idea with the company.

Trump's Coca-Cola push could revive iconic southern industry
Trump's Coca-Cola push could revive iconic southern industry

Daily Mail​

time4 days ago

  • Daily Mail​

Trump's Coca-Cola push could revive iconic southern industry

President Trump's push to re-introduce cane sugar to Coca-Cola has raised hopes of an economic boom in Louisiana's sugarcane industry. Farmers in the southern state say they are overjoyed after the White House announced it had struck a deal with the soda giant to return cane sugar to some of its products. The move will shift Cokes away from high-fructose corn syrup and back to natural sugar, elating Louisiana growers whose produce is set to become a hot commodity. Ross Noel, a fourth-generation sugarcane farmer in Donaldsonville, LA, told KLFY that the new soda recipe will benefit far more than just the farmers growing the sugar cane. The deal from Trump to introduce cane sugar back into Coke is part of a wider push from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to bring back natural ingredients to everyday foods. In Louisiana, farmers say that the natural ingredients trend could be a game changer for its crop-growing industry. 'There's something special about growing a crop that's real, simple, and trusted—and that is something to be proud of,' Noel told KLFY . This trend also previously saw Steak 'n Shake announce in February that it would switch from vegetable oil to beef tallow in its French fries recipe. The move to beef tallow isn't just a coincidence, as the chain actually mentioned RFK Jr. and his 'Make America Health Again' (MAHA) movement in an announcement about the change. Steak 'n Shake wrote on X, 'By March 1 ALL locations. Fries will be RFK'd!' Although Trump lauded his deal with Coca-Cola as a huge win for the MAHA movement, industry chiefs warned that consumers may end up paying more as a result . Experts warned that removing sweeteners from the drink in favor of real sugar could cost thousands of American jobs in manufacturing, and the idea has already caused chaos on the stock market. Corn Refiners Association CEO John Bode released a statement on Thursday warning that the recipe change could trigger economic mayhem and political turmoil. 'Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar would cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs, depress farm income, and boost imports of foreign sugar, all with no nutritional benefit,' Bode said. Coca-Cola bosses said last week that they are adding a cane sugar option to their drink lineup , but did not say that they were removing their high-fructose corn syrup options. 'As part of its ongoing innovation agenda, this fall in the United States, the company plans to launch an offering made with U.S. cane sugar to expand its Trademark Coca-Cola product range,' the soda giant said. 'This addition is designed to complement the company's strong core portfolio and offer more choices across occasions and preferences.' Trump's announcement has already prompted shockwaves in the stock market, costing investors billions of dollars. Shares in Archer Daniels Midland, a leading corn processor, plunged almost six percent in pre-market trading following Trump's announcement. This reflects a potential hit to investors of around $1.5 billion.

Trump pushing Coke to use real sugar in its sodas is set to revive iconic southern industry
Trump pushing Coke to use real sugar in its sodas is set to revive iconic southern industry

Daily Mail​

time5 days ago

  • Daily Mail​

Trump pushing Coke to use real sugar in its sodas is set to revive iconic southern industry

President Trump's push to re-introduce cane sugar to Coca-Cola has raised hopes of an economic boom in Louisiana 's sugarcane industry. Farmers in the southern state say they are overjoyed after the White House announced it had struck a deal with the soda giant to return cane sugar to some of its products. The move will shift Cokes away from high-fructose corn syrup and back to natural sugar, elating Louisiana growers whose produce is set to become a hot commodity. Ross Noel, a fourth-generation sugarcane farmer in Donaldsonville, LA, told KLFY that the new soda recipe will benefit far more than just the farmers growing the sugar cane. 'In our state, sugar isn't just a crop, it's a community,' he said. 'Our kids go to school here. Our families work the land to keep our little communities and towns going. 'Any positive effect to Louisiana sugarcane growers will also help the community, as far as jobs, and the demand for sugar.' The deal from Trump to introduce cane sugar back into Coke is part of a wider push from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to bring back natural ingredients to everyday foods. In Louisiana, farmers say that the natural ingredients trend could be a game changer for its crop-growing industry. 'There's something special about growing a crop that's real, simple, and trusted—and that is something to be proud of,' Noel told KLFY. This trend also previously saw Steak 'n Shake announce in February that it would switch from vegetable oil to beef tallow in its French fries recipe. The move to beef tallow isn't just a coincidence, as the chain actually mentioned RFK Jr. and his 'Make America Health Again' (MAHA) movement in an announcement about the change. Steak 'n Shake wrote on X, 'By March 1 ALL locations. Fries will be RFK'd!' Although Trump lauded his deal with Coca-Cola as a huge win for the MAHA movement, industry chiefs warned that consumers may end up paying more as a result. Experts warned that removing sweeteners from the drink in favor of real sugar could cost thousands of American jobs in manufacturing, and the idea has already caused chaos on the stock market. Corn Refiners Association CEO John Bode released a statement on Thursday warning that the recipe change could trigger economic mayhem and political turmoil. 'Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar would cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs, depress farm income, and boost imports of foreign sugar, all with no nutritional benefit,' Bode said. Coca-Cola bosses said last week that they are adding a cane sugar option to their drink lineup, but did not say that they were removing their high-fructose corn syrup options. 'As part of its ongoing innovation agenda, this fall in the United States, the company plans to launch an offering made with U.S. cane sugar to expand its Trademark Coca-Cola product range,' the soda giant said. 'This addition is designed to complement the company's strong core portfolio and offer more choices across occasions and preferences.' Corn syrup industry experts have warned that removing sweeteners from the drink in favor of real sugar could cost thousands of American jobs in manufacturing Trump's announcement has already prompted shockwaves in the stock market, costing investors billions of dollars. Shares in Archer Daniels Midland, a leading corn processor, plunged almost six percent in pre-market trading following Trump's announcement. This reflects a potential hit to investors of around $1.5 billion. Another major corn refiner, Ingredion, also suffered a nosedive in value, with shares dropping almost seven percent. Trump famously installed a red button on his desk that allows him to quickly summon a Diet Coke, his favorite drink. In his Truth Social post pushing for the controversial recipe change, Trump praised Coca-Cola chiefs, saying: 'This will be a very good move by them — You'll see. It's just better!'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store