Kenya Insights

Tag: Coca-Cola

  • Coca-Cola Recalls Drinks Over Safety Concerns

    Coca-Cola Recalls Drinks Over Safety Concerns

    Coca-Cola has recalled its drinks in some countries across Europe because they contain “higher levels” of a chemical called chlorate.

    The firm said in a statement that the recall was focused on Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. It added that just five product lines had been shipped to Britain and had already been sold.

    Affected products include the Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Tropico and Minute Maid brands, according to the Belgium branch of Coca-Cola’s international bottling and distribution operation.

    Chlorate can be produced when chlorine-based disinfectants are used in water treatment and food processing.

    “Independent expert analysis concludes that any associated risk for consumers is very low,” a spokesperson told the BBC.

    Coca-Cola said it had not received any consumer complaints in Great Britain, and that it had “alerted the authorities on this matter and will continue to collaborate with them.”

    The company did not specify which products have been affected in the UK but said the five product lines were shipped to the UK towards the end of last year.

    Anne Gravett from the Food Standards Agency said it was investigating.

    “If we identify any unsafe food, we’ll take action to ensure it is removed and alert consumers,” she added.

    Exposure to high levels of chlorate can cause health problems including thyroid problems, especially among children and infants.

    NHS and private nutritionist Caron Grazette told the BBC: “We need to question whether or not we want to digest chemicals in soft drinks which are used in the production of fireworks and disinfectants, however small the quantity”.

    Chlorate’s effects on humans when taken in excess include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and limiting the blood’s ability to absorb oxygen, added Ms Grazette, citing recent research into the chemical.

    The higher levels of chlorate were discovered during routine testing at the company’s production facility in Ghent, Belgium, according to an unnamed company spokesperson quoted by the AFP news agency.

    The majority of unsold products had been withdrawn from shelves, according to AFP, and the company was in the process of withdrawing the rest.

    A Coca-Cola spokesperson said it “considers the quality and safety of its products as its top priority”.

    (BBC)

  • CAK Orders Coca-Cola To Retain All Almasi Beverages Ltd Employees

    CAK Orders Coca-Cola To Retain All Almasi Beverages Ltd Employees

    Competition Authority of Kenya and Centum have instructed Coca-Cola Sabco East Africa (CCBA) to retain all 1739 permanent employees that the now merged firm Almasi Beverages limited had.

    While certifying the acquisition of ABL, CAK set conditions to not only protect 99 percent of the ABL workforce but also Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

    “The merged entity shall for a three (3) year period following completion of the proposed transaction retain 1,749 employees of the total 1,760 permanent employees,” CAK declared.

    “The merged entity shall reserve the lower deck, or not less than 20 percent of the total storage space of the coolers lent to SMEs for products of competitors except the brands of the Coca-Cola Company’s three (3) largest global non-alcoholic ready-to-drink competitors.” CAK added.

    In the acquisition deal set to be complete by early next year, Centum will sell its entire 53.9 percent stake in Almasi and 27.6 percent of issued shares in Nairobi Bottlers Limited (NBL) for Sh19.5 billion.

    In June this year, Centum had stated that they will forfeit all its shares in Almasi to raise funds to offset part of Sh7.5 billion defaulted loans.

    CCBA will now operate the current Almasi bottling plants in Nyeri, Eldoret, Nairobi, Molo and Kisumu for at least three years after the acquisition.

    The Almasi deal is part of  Coca- Cola’s feats to increase its customer base in the local non-alcoholic drinks market. Currently, the drink giant has a 70percent marker dominance.

    Recent cases and corporate lawsuits against the drink giants have been threatening its  existence. The recent one being that of Funyula residents against Coca-Cola and their distributor.

     

    A recent invetigation by Vice News and James Roberts also exposed the mess that Coca-Cola has done with its single use plastics. An expose` that saw the giant firm change from single-use plastics to returnable glass bottles in all of its Dasani plants in Tanzania.

     

  • Names Of Witnesses To Testify In The Funyula Residents Against Coca-Cola Case

    Names Of Witnesses To Testify In The Funyula Residents Against Coca-Cola Case

    On 16th June this year, Kenyan Insights reported that Stephen Serulo, Zablon Barasa and Mr Richard Sikudi had sued the Atlanta-based company, its Africa subsidiaries (Coca Cola Central, East and West) and local agent Equator Bottlers Limited in Funyula on behalf of 55 other complainants.

    The three petitioners had taken the soft drinks giant Coca Cola to Court after one of their distributor sold them contaminated drinks. In the petition, on behalf of other complainants, petitioners say they bought soft drinks in separate ceremonies last year.

    More than 10 witnesses have since been summoned to appear in person before the Busia High Court in November to testify in a case where by 58 people had sued Coca-cola company for allegedly selling them contaminated soda drinks.

    In a letter dated October 15, 2019 written and signed by the Busia Deputy High Court registrar, Phoebe Kulecho, the witnesses have been ordered to appear in court in person on November 18, 2019.

    “Whereas your attendance is required to give evidence as per Court Order in the above suit, you are hereby required personally to appear before this court on the 18 November, 2019 in the forenoon to produce laboratory analysis results vide Ref No. MPHS/DC/125 dated 30 July, 2012 and to be present at all times until your presence is dispensed with by the court,” the letter said.

    Among those expected to testify include Mr. Kepha Ombacho Busia county Environmental Health officer, Mr. J.K Kibathi from the Government Chemist and Mr Antony Irungu from Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs)

    The other witnesses whom the letter was addressed to include Mr. Martin Nyakiano, Mr. Felix Omondi, M/s Catherine Were, Mr. Seth Ngoso (Kebs), Mr Emmanuel Luvai (former District Public Health Officer) and Mr. Wilson Kosgey.

    Some of the complainants who have since been enjoined in the petition have been having complications for over over 4 years now.

    Dr. Sande Charo, Medical superintendent at Busia County referral Hospital confirmed to the court through a medical report that some of 60 patients were confirmed sick by the hospital and got their treatment there. Dr Charo told this writer that most of them were treated for food poisoning and given strong antibiotics.

    In December 2018, Coca Cola, through Anjarwalla and Khanna Advocates, tried to blackmail the plaintiffs’ lawyers to consider the compensation package.

    The petitioner said Coca cola has been trying an out-of-court settlement with them. The drink giant was offering Sh45,000 through their lawyers as an individual compensation cut.

    They turned down the deal saying its a blackmail by the company’s law firm and totally unrealistic for the massive damage their substandard drink caused.

     

     

  • Funyula Residents Sue Coca-Cola After Their Distributor Sold Them Contaminated Drinks

    Funyula Residents Sue Coca-Cola After Their Distributor Sold Them Contaminated Drinks

    Stephen Serulo, Zablon Barasa and Mr Richard Sikudi, have sued the Atlanta-based company, its Africa subsidiaries (Coca Cola Central, East and West) and local agent Equator Bottlers Limited in Funyula on behalf of 55 other complainants.

    The three petitioners have taken the soft drinks giant Coca Cola to Court after one of their distributor sold them contaminated drinks.

    In the petition, the petitioners on behalf of other complainants say they bought soft drinks in separate ceremonies last year.

    They have medical proof indicating that more than 30 people who took the drinks suffered acute abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, with severe body weakness.

    Dr. Sande Charo, Medical superintendent at Busia County referral Hospital confirmed to the court through a medical report that some of 60 patients were confirmed sick by the hospital and got their treatment there.

    Dr Charo told this writer that most of them were treated for food poisoning and given strong antibiotics.

    He also confirmed that Two of the patients succumbed to severe food poisoning related complications.

    Kenya Bureau of Standards reports presented in court by the petitioners revealed that the samples of the drinks taken from the site did not meet the required food standards.

    High Court in Busia has started the pretrial of this one of the biggest consumer case in the History of Kenya.

    Some of the complainants who have joined the petition have been having complications for over over 4 years now.

    In December 2018, Coca Cola, through Anjarwalla and Khanna Advocates, tried to blackmail the plaintiffs’ lawyers to consider the compensation package.

    The petitioner said Coca cola has been trying an out-of-court settlement with them.

    The drink giant was offering Sh45,000 through their lawyers as an individual compensation cut.

    They turned down the deal saying its a blackmail by the company’s law firm and totally unrealistic for the massive damage their substandard drink caused.

    Nicholas Okumu and Mr John Osiako appeared before Busia High court Justice Waweru on 10th of June for cross-examination by defence lawyers.