Smelly sodas raise poisoning suspicions

A police investigation into potential poisoning is underway after drinks giants Coca-Cola and Spendrups received complaints about foul-smelling sodas.

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Shops in towns across the west of Sweden returned bottles to Coca-Cola's Swedish headquarters and claimed compensation after noticing a foul smell from 50 cl bottles and receiving complaints from customers.

According to the local newspaper Ttela several individuals have also filed complaints directly with Coca-Cola in Sweden after purchasing drinks which they said both smelled and tasted badly.

Those who have filed complaints with Spendrups over 50 cl bottles of Loka water have said the drinks smelled of dissolvent.

A police investigation is underway and locals worry about potential poisoning.

"We regard the situation as very serious," Coca-Cola spokesman Peter Bodor told the local Ttela newspaper.

"Production here in Jordbro [in the south of Stockholm] started 14 years ago and we have never experienced this before. Those who have contacted us say that the Coca-Cola smells and tastes strangely. This is very serious," said Bodor.

Coca-Cola has sent some of the returned bottles off for tests, but Bodor said that, as far as the company knows, there have been no wrongdoings at the factory.

"We have scrutinized every part of the process and cannot find any faults. Our Coca-Cola product reaches the whole country, but all the complaints come from the same geographical area."

Complaints to Coca-Cola have come from the towns of Trollhättan, Vänersborg, Uddevalla and Herrljunga, all in the west of Sweden.

Complaints to Spendrups have come from Vänersborg and Herrljunga.

"This is very unusual. I have never experienced anything like it," said Spendrups spokesman Claes Åkesson.

"As far as we can tell nothing has gone wrong in the production," he added.

No one has been reported as sick from consuming the Coca-Cola and Loka drinks.

The Vänersborg police are handling the investigation but declined to comment, citing secrecy rules.

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