CHINA: Crisis-hit Coca-Cola is liable for cockroach in drink bottle

2010-2-5

By Wang Xiang     

A DISTRICT court in Beijing found soft drink giant Coca-Cola responsible for a cockroach in a bottle of Sprite, raising questions about the company's sanitary conditions amid investigations into two cases of mercury poisoning after drinking the lemonade.

A consumer surnamed Gao said he found a 3-centimeter cockroach in a bottle of Sprite dated June 2007 before he opened it. He sued the company for reimbursement and one yuan (15 US cents) token compensation for mental damage, reported yesterday's Beijing Times.

Daxing District People's Court ruled on Wednesday that the company must reimburse Gao 2.05 yuan for the bottle of Sprite.
Police yesterday took Sprite cans for independent testing after two Beijing people became ill with mercury poisoning after drinking the lemonade.

China Packaging Research & Test Center will find out whether the cans had been tampered with, which could prove Coca-Cola's theory that someone added the mercury while the drinks were on store shelves.

A 13-year-old boy named Wang Cheng was the latest to fall ill after drinking Sprite on January 17.

His father Wang Yijun said his son was now getting better after 19 days of treatment but will continue to press for a thorough investigation. Coca-Cola has offered to pay his medical bills out of "humane concerns."

Medical bills

Last November, Beijing native Ma Sai, 21, vomited mercury and required treatment after drinking Sprite bought in a restaurant. Coca-Cola paid Ma 20,000 yuan to cover his medical bills, according to Beijing News.

The company issued a statement after the incidents were reported, ruling out contamination at its Beijing plant. The company said it believed a third party had "maliciously" added the mercury after the canning process.

The company's publicity official Chen Yi said sales of Sprite have been influenced by the incidents. He insisted that there was no fault on the company's side.

Beijing police said they are still investigating whether there are any connections between the two cases.

View Article in the Shanghai Daily