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Witness History: When Belgium Banned Coca-Cola

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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).

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