3 Coca-Cola Flavors Slapped With FDA Risk Alert in Texas

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration assigned its second highest risk alert to 1,115 units of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, 791 units of Sprite and 2,322 units of Coca-Cola in Texas.

Juliette Fairley

Published: 10/24/2025, 11:34:37 AM EDT

3 Coca-Cola Flavors Slapped With FDA Risk Alert in Texas — Bottles of Coca Cola displayed at a grocery store in Corte Madera, Calif., on April 24, 2023. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Various Coca Cola products sold in Texas have been recalled and assigned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s second highest risk alert.

Coca Cola Southwest Beverages of Dallas, Texas voluntarily recalled three 12-ounce soft drink flavors in 35-pack and 12 pack units, according to an FDA enforcement report.

The recall is applicable to 1,115 units of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, 791 units of Sprite and 2,322 units of Coca-Cola. The reason cited for the Oct. 2 recall is the potential presence of metal in the cans.

All recalled product has been removed from the market, according to Coca Cola Company spokesperson Craig Bell.

"This action was taken out of an abundance of caution due to the potential presence of foreign material," Bell told NTD. "The recall was limited to the McAllen/Rio Grande Valley market."

Expiration dates for the Texas Coca-Cola soft drinks range from Feb. 2 to June 30, 2026.

This week, on Oct. 20, the FDA designated the Coca Cola Southwest Beverages recall a Class 2 event, which is the federal government’s second highest risk alert and is described on the FDA website as exposure to a product that may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.

"Class 1 recalls are done out of an abundance of caution because the consumption of the product could cause serious health issues, or even death,” Mendocino Food Consulting founder Bryan Quoc Le.

A Class 3 event involves products that violate regulations but are unlikely to cause health problems, such as minor labeling errors.

The potential contamination of food or drink by a foreign object, specifically metal, is alarming to some professionals like food industry consultant Quoc Le.

"Lead contamination is a very serious issue that is often detected further up the ingredient supply chain, where contamination occurs at the point of harvesting or processing of ingredients," Quoc Le added.

Food recalls have been on the rise in recent years. A Trace One study found that U.S. food recalls increased by 15 percent in the past five years.

Foreign object contamination accounted for 11.6 percent of all recalls, undeclared allergens accounted for nearly 40 percent, bacterial contamination accounted for 21.1 percent, and lead contamination accounted for 1.7 percent, according to the study.

Earlier this month, the potential for contamination by metal led the Georgia Nut Company to issue a voluntary recall of three varieties of Tru Fru Freeze Dried items, according to an FDA alert.

“Hard or sharp foreign objects in food may cause traumatic injury including laceration and perforation of tissues of the mouth, tongue, throat, stomach and intestine as well as damage to the teeth and gums,” the FDA said.