Coca-Cola recalls all Appletiser products

Beverage drinks giant, Coca-Cola has released an urgent message to consumers of the popular sparkling fruit drink, Appletiser, to return any unused products back to the store.

In a statement, the global corporation said that the Apple and carbonated water drink presents a health risk and has decided to no longer to produce it.

“The health and wellbeing of our consumers is our primary concern and we have taken a decision to withdraw all affected stock from the market nationwide, with immediate effect. 

With our partners, Coca‑Cola Beverages South Africa and Coca‑Cola Peninsula Beverages, we are working with authorities to ensure all processes are followed as we continue our investigation to understand the cause of the problem,” said Coca-Cola in a statement.

If anyone has purchased the Appletiser product from batches: BB 07NOV21, BB 30MAY22, BB 10JUN22, BB 18MAY22, BB 19MAY22, and BB 23MAY22.

The batch numbers can be found on the top or bottom of the pack.

Coca-Cola has urged consumers to contact the call centre on 0860 112 526 and request for the collection and exchange of the product. 

“We apologize for any inconvenience caused,” said the company.

55 Year old heritage of the ‘Tiser’ brand

Appletiser was created in 1966 in Elgin Valley, Western Cape, South Africa, by French-Italian immigrant Edmond Lombardi.

For export and out of season, the juice is concentrated by extracting the aroma and the water from it.

The concentrate can then be stored in cold rooms. In South Africa, the juice is filtered and then immediately bottled, with no water being added.

In 1979, The Coca-Cola Company purchased a 50% stake in Appletiser. Eventually, in Appletiser brand was sold to The Coca-Cola Company by SABMiller (now AB InBev), and the Tiser brands are now manufactured under licence by Appletiser South Africa (ASA), which is part of the bottling operations of Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA)