Sources inform ''Globes'' that Central Bottling Company Ltd. (Coca-Cola Israel) will collect more bottles tomorrow on suspicion of containing contaminated carbon dioxide. Bottles with expiration dates of March 22, 2010 will be collected, after the company already collected bottles with expiration dates of March 18 and 19.
Coca-Cola Israel is due to publish notices in the daily newspapers tomorrow, instructing the public with bottles with these expiration dates to return them to stores. Oddly, the company suspended a notice to consumers and stores about the expanded collection.
A study by "Globes" at several supermarkets today found that, while Coca-Cola Israel is aware of the importance of the expanded collection, none of the supermarkets had been notified.
Ministry of Health Food Service inspectors yesterday visited the Makhteshim Agan Industries Ltd. (TASE: MAIN) factory that manufactures the carbon dioxide used by Coca-Cola Israel. The results of the inspection have not yet been received. The ministry said that Makhteshim was conducting its own inspection into the suspected contaminated carbon dioxide. The ministry said that while contaminated carbon dioxide had been found in Coca-Cola bottles, there was no danger to the public.
Soda Club Ltd. and Jafora Tabori Ltd., which produce RC Cola, Schweppes, and Crystal soft drinks, have also stopped buying carbon dioxide from Makhteshim. Jafor Tabori said that all its products passed inspections, despite concern about the carbon dioxide from Makhteshim.
Coca-Cola Israel was unavailable for comment by web-posting.
Makhteshim Agan said in response, "Makhteshim has supplied carbon dioxide to Coca-Cola Israel for many years, with no problems. The cases described involve a byproduct of the manufacturing process at Makhteshim, which is not part of its core business. Makhteshim's laboratories are examining the link between the supply of this product to faults received, and in any case, it stopped production of carbon dioxide on November 17. We are examining the issue."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 30, 2009
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