the European Commission's (ec) consumer protection department has rejected the explanation given by Coca-Cola for the contamination scare that broke out in France and Belgium in May and June. The department also found fault with the French authorities' handling of the problem. A recently released report by the department said Coca-Cola's explanation for the contamination was "not entirely satisfactory'.

The report termed Coca-Cola's assertion that fungicide used on pallets at its plant in France was partly responsible for the contamination, as "highly unlikely'. It held that a production problem could not be ruled out and investigations in France and Belgium must continue. "It is essential to find out the real cause of the contamination,' it added.