Contaminant in Diet Coke Bottle (For the 2nd Time)

[PineapplePrincess]

Avid Diet Coke drinker here. I usually purchase 2ltr bottles for the house.

About a year ago I found a brown circular button type thing at the bottom of a 2ltr bottle. Was fortunate it wasn't poured into a glass and drank, as being brown in colour it wouldn’t have been obvious and would pose a potential choke risk particularly to young children.

I took photos and emailed them to Coke Cola, who asked for the packaging and ‘button’ to be sent to them for investigation. Which I did. I got a letter a few weeks later stating that they had concluded their investigation, had found no evidence of contamination through their process and (bizarrely) intimated that it would have had to enter the bottle at a later stage, I took from this they were almost blaming me!?! There was a ~£1.50 voucher included in the letter by was of an apology for the inconvenience.

The letter annoyed me, but I couldn’t be bothered arguing the point and marked it down to poor customer experience/service.

Until yesterday. When the same thing happened again.

Poured a drink into a glass, trace amount left at the bottom of the bottle when cutting the bottle in half to pop into the recycle bin - low and behold the same little brown circular button.

That’s a heck of a coincidence to happen twice to the same customer. Either that, or it happens a lot???

So I need help solving this mystery….

• Has this happened to anyone else?
• What do you think it is?
• How could it got into the bottle (twice)?
• Should I trust Coca Cola to investigate again?
• Who should I report to?

I really, really don’t think this has gone in at my house. I’m pretty sure the bottle was sealed when it was opened for first use (I’m sure I would have notice if it had been open, as I’m the only person in the house that drinks it).

Tried calling Coca Cola today, their helpline is closed. If I’m honest I’m a bit reluctant to send everything away to them again, to get a similar response. Not sure who I would contact for a more independent assessment - Food Standard maybe…?

AIBU to want (proper) answers to this mystery?

If it is something off an machine it would be really weird to happen to same person twice with how much coke is produced.

Very weird. Hopefully they will give a more satisfactory answer (and freebies!) this time.

It made me recall when I was growing up we were dirt poor, dry bread sandwiches poor, my dad bought some cobs from the local bakery once, and when cutting it open there was a large rusty nail in the middle. He called them and popped back with the offending cob and nail still inside.
A week later the bakery owner pulled up at our house and unloaded one of the big brown bread trays from his car brimming with bakery items and delivered it to us, I had never seen such treats. Cobs by the bag full, cakes, cream cakes, fruit loaf, doughnuts, freshly baked bread....... I think I drooled, I had only ever imagined trying all those things.
Mum and dad froze the bread/cobs and me and my brother had a fab weekend gorging on sugar laden treats.

@PineapplePrincess there is a sub Reddit called "what is this thing?" and I bet if you put all those pictures up someone will be able to tell you what that thing is.

I am invested in this mystery.

@Againstmachine · Today 18:07

If it is something off an machine it would be really weird to happen to same person twice with how much coke is produced

I know, the odds must be astronomical unless this is a regular thing? Particularly arising at two different factories!?!

But I can’t come up with any other logic. I don’t see how it could enter the bottle at distribution, that would only leave someone putting it in the bottle at the house.

I very much doubt the kids would (DS4 couldn’t, DS9 highly unlikely and not with the same item). And if my DH was trying to knock me off, I’m sure there would be more productive ways than this!?!

Diet coke is not full of cancer causing chemicals. Artificial sweeteners aren't great for you but there's no solid evidence that they cause cancer.

Could it come from your scissors when you are cutting the bottles? Like this:

Send it in to your local authority. I once had a large piece of plastic in a bag of pasta. It was doubly annoying as it was during covid so I couldn't swap it for another. Sainsbury refused to refund me the 47p. So I went to the local authority. The lady that works there thanked me for giving her something interesting to do during lockdowm and I later got a 20 page report about how sainsbury had sent 3 people to their factory in France to investigate it. It was determined to be part of the mixer. I bet it cost them a lot more than 47p to determine this!

This Saturday, I bought some pancakes from asda, still in date and everything. Opened them the day I bought them to find they were mouldy. I don't dare go back to the LA again incase they think it's me lol. But if you've got no previous, go for it. It'll cost them a lot more than £1.50 to resolve!

It's off the scissors.

Diet Coke is choca bloc full of chemicals and caffeine. Best off with water all day and a bit of wine in the evening!

I think OP would have noticed if her scissors fell apart on both occasions...

Me too. I guess that’s women think of when men are thinking of the Roman Empire.

They haven't fallen apart, the little plastic button has popped off. Happens on ours whenever you use them to cut anything more substantial than paper.

OP please do this, I am also invested 😁