Over 10,000 Coca-Cola cans have been recalled for plastic contamination, with the FDA quietly classifying this as a health risk without alerting consumers through a press release.
Key Takeaways
- Coca-Cola recalled 864 cases (10,368 cans) of Original Taste 12-packs in Illinois and Wisconsin due to possible plastic contamination
- The FDA classified this as a Class II recall, indicating potential temporary health consequences, yet issued no press release
- Affected products have specific identifiers: date code SEP2925MDA, time stamp 1100-1253, with specific UPC codes
- Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling initiated the recall voluntarily on March 6, citing failure to meet quality standards
- This incident joins a growing trend of food and beverage recalls due to foreign material contamination
Silent Recall: Big Soda’s Quality Control Failure
Coca-Cola, one of America’s most iconic brands, is facing scrutiny after recalling nearly 900 cases of its signature product from store shelves in Illinois and Wisconsin. The recall, which impacts over 10,000 individual cans, stems from potential plastic contamination that could pose health risks to consumers. Most concerning is how quietly this recall has been handled, with no press release issued to warn the public, despite the FDA classifying it as a health concern. This lack of transparency raises questions about whether corporate interests are being prioritized over consumer safety.
More than 10,000 cans of Coca-Cola sold in Wisconsin and Illinois have been recalled over possible plastic contamination. https://t.co/rdXBUK0ns4
— TMJ4 News (@tmj4) March 27, 2025
FDA’s Classification and Delayed Response
The FDA has classified this incident as a Class II recall, a designation that acknowledges potential health risks while downplaying their severity. According to the agency, this classification describes “a situation in which use of or 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.” Despite this official recognition of possible harm, the FDA waited until March 24 to classify the recall – nearly three weeks after Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling initially pulled the product from shelves on March 6.
The FDA’s handling of this situation exemplifies the regulatory laxity that has become increasingly common in America’s food safety system. No termination date has been announced for the recall, leaving consumers uncertain about when the threat might be resolved. More concerning is the complete absence of information regarding how many people may have been affected by consuming contaminated products before the recall was initiated, highlighting a troubling gap in our public health monitoring system.
Over 10,000 cans of Original Coca-Cola were recalled due to potential plastic contamination. Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling initiated the recall on 3/6, & the FDA classified it as Class II on 3/24, suggesting temporary health risks. It affects 864 12-packs of 12-ounce cans from… pic.twitter.com/i7XBEZTAZJ
— BreakinNewz (@BreakinNewz01) March 26, 2025
Corporate Damage Control Over Consumer Safety
Rather than acknowledging a potential health hazard, Coca-Cola’s response has focused primarily on quality standards language that minimizes the seriousness of plastic contamination in consumable products. A company spokesperson carefully framed the recall as a voluntary action based on quality concerns rather than addressing the legitimate health risks that prompted the FDA’s Class II designation. This corporate messaging prioritizes brand protection while providing minimal practical information to help consumers identify whether they’ve purchased potentially contaminated products.
“Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling is voluntarily recalling 864 cases of 12-pack Coca-Cola Classic in 12-oz cans in Illinois and Wisconsin,” a company spokesperson said Wednesday in an emailed statement to USA TODAY. “The cases are being withdrawn because they did not meet our high-quality standards. We are taking this voluntary action because nothing is more important to us than providing high-quality products to the people who drink our beverages.”
Broader Pattern of Food Safety Concerns
This Coca-Cola recall isn’t occurring in isolation but is part of a troubling trend of increasing food and beverage contamination incidents across America. Recently, both Stouffer’s and Lean Cuisine frozen entrées have faced similar recalls due to foreign materials in their products. The frequency of these incidents raises serious questions about declining manufacturing standards and regulatory oversight in our food supply chain. While Americans struggle with record inflation and rising food costs, they’re simultaneously facing increasing risks from the very products they’re paying premium prices to consume.
For consumers who may have purchased the affected products, specific details to check include the date code SEP2925MDA, time stamp 1100-1253, can UPC 0 49000-00634 6, and 12-can pack UPC 0 49000-02890 4. The FDA advises against consuming these products and recommends returning them for a refund. However, without wider public notification, many consumers may remain unaware of these risks, highlighting yet another failure of our regulatory system to prioritize public health over corporate interests.
