Coca-Cola water batch flagged for alkaline contamination, police investigate

Czech police have launched an intensive inquiry into a 0.5-liter bottle of Coca-Cola spring water produced in Teplice nad Metují, after laboratory analysis revealed a pH of 14, pointing to lye contamination. The bottle belongs to batch L61481/00:20 (dated 27/11/2026) and was destined exclusively for Slovakia, where it was purchased by a public-catering operator in Ivanka pri Dunaji. Investigators are working with the Regional Health Station and the State Agricultural and Food Inspection, which noted the bottling occurred hours after the last sanitation, making production contamination unlikely.

The police have also reached out to Slovak authorities for possible joint action. The findings were based on a sample taken from a consumer-opened package.