The Coca-Cola Co is working with police in China to determine how two people fell ill with suspected mercury poisoning after reportedly drinking Sprite.

Police in Beijing are investigating possible links between the Sprite soft drink and two suspected cases of mercury poisoning, in November last year and January 2010.

Sprite brand owner, The Coca-Cola Co, is fully cooperating with the police and has not found any problem at its bottling or production facilities, a spokesperson for the US-based soft drinks group told just-drinks today (2 February).

“As soon as we were informed of this unusual occurrence happening in Beijing, we conducted a thorough internal review,” said the spokesperson.

“All production equipment and processes were double checked and the product samples retained in the plant were tested. The review has found all products to be safe and the production facility to be operating normally.”

The group added that its Beijing bottler enforces “stringent quality control” and complies fully with national safety laws.

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