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PepsiCo issues soda recall in Michigan due to metal contamination from equipment malfunction

08-May-2017 - Last updated on 10-May-2017 at 14:05 GMT

The consumer recall applies to only certain plastic bottles of the original PepsiCola soda. ©iStock/choness

PepsiCo and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) have issued a recall of specific 16.9 ounce Pepsi soda due to metal contamination after consumers reported a “metallic taste.”

PepsiCo has said there is no safety issue. After receiving 18 consumer complaints between late February and early April, PepsiCo launched an investigation and found that metal flecks had adulterated some of its cola products due to an equipment malfunction during bottling, the consumer advisory report stated.

“The metal flecks found during the investigation were very small (0.1 – 0.3 mm), but there is a concern that larger flecks could have been formed when the equipment failed,” MARD said. The metals were identified as iron and chromium.

The advisory only applies to 16.9-ounce plastic bottles of Pepsi-Cola – not Diet Pepsi, Pepsi Zero Sugar, or any other Pepsi-Cola flavor variations, or any other package sizes, MARD said in a statement.

Out of an “abundance of caution,” PepsiCo has removed all recalled products from Michigan retailers, but some of the products have already been purchased.

MARD and PepsiCo are urging consumers to check if they have purchased Pepsi-Cola under the product codes HC022373 and HC022473 and return the affected product to the place of purchase.

No known injuries or illnesses associated with these products have been reported to date.