The European bottling unit of soda giant Coca-Cola on Monday said it has ordered a major recall of Coke, Sprite, Fanta and other beverages after checks identified high levels of chlorate.

The recall concerns cans and glass bottles distributed in Belgium, the Netherlands, Britain, Germany, France and Luxembourg since the end of November, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Belgium told AFP.

“The majority of the affected and unsold products have already been removed from store shelves and we continue to take measures to remove all remaining products from the market,” the firm said.

Chlorate can be found in foods as it derives from chlorine disinfectants widely used in water treatment and food processing.

In a 2015 scientific opinion, the European Food Safety Authority said that long-term exposure to the substance posed a potential health concern for children, especially those with mild or moderate iodine deficiency.