Original version

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

Witness History

Podcasts

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: History

History as told by the people who were there

History as told by the people who were there.

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

Witness History: When Belgium Banned Coca-Cola

Documentaries

Coca Cola crop.jpg

19/10/2018 GMT

When Belgium Banned Coca-Cola

BBC World Service - Witness History, When Belgium Banned Coca-Cola

When Belgian teenagers got sick they blamed Coca-Cola but the truth was more mysterious

The Belgian government banned all Coca-Cola products after around 100 teenagers got sick in 1999. But the fizzy drink was given the all-clear, so what was making people sick?

In 1999 Belgian teenagers started to become ill after drinking Coca-Cola. Many ended up in hospital and the government banned the sale of all Coca-Cola products. But the fizzy drink was given the all-clear so what was making the children sick? Claire Bowes has been speaking to Belgian toxicologist, Benoit Nemery, about a country in crisis.

(Photo: A poster saying 'out of order' is stuck on a Coca Cola vending machine in Mouscron, Belgium in 1999. Credit: Philippe Huguen/AFP/Getty Images).

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Witness History

When Belgium Banned Coca-Cola

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

About BBC World Service