Delta Beverages faces scrutiny over 'maggots' in Coke bottle

Zimbabwean beverage giant Delta Corporation is facing intense scrutiny after a government laboratory reportedly confirmed that foreign particles found inside a bottle of Coca-Cola were maggots, in a case currently before the Harare Magistrates Court.

The matter was heard on Thursday before Lisa Mutendereki, with Delta Beverages denying responsibility and arguing that counterfeit products circulating on the market may have been involved.

The complainant, Shepherd Mukonomera, told the court that he discovered what he described as worms inside the soft drink after consuming most of its contents.

According to court papers, Mukonomera bought a 300ml bottle of Coca-Cola from a street vendor at Number 62 Mbuya Nehanda in central Harare on October 19, 2023.

The State alleges that after drinking about three quarters of the beverage, he noticed "unknown foreign objects" inside the bottle and immediately spat out the drink.

"The complainant purchased a 300ml Coca-Cola soft drink… whilst drinking the soft drink after reaching about a quarter he then saw some unknown foreign objects," the State outline reads.

Authorities later submitted the remaining contents for forensic examination.

The accused in the matter are vendor Violet Musandukwa and Delta Beverages, represented in court by Chenai Chawafambira.

During proceedings, Delta's lawyer told the court that one government laboratory visually identified the particles as maggots, while another scientific analysis reportedly concluded that the substance was starch.

In her statement to investigators, Musandukwa said she was shocked when the customer returned with the bottle.

"Upon checking the drink, I saw that there were white organisms at the bottom of the Coca-Cola bottle," she said.

She added that she immediately informed a shop manager and contacted a Coca-Cola representative.

Delta Beverages has strongly denied that the contaminated product originated from its manufacturing process.

"There is nothing on record to prove that the alleged contaminated product was produced at the 2nd Accused's plant," the company said in court papers.

The company further argued that even if the drink had initially come from its production line, it could have been tampered with after leaving company control.

"The market is flooded with counterfeit goods," Delta said in its defence.

The beverages manufacturer also insisted that its automated and internationally certified production systems make contamination highly unlikely.

"Collection, preparation and bottling of all Coca-Cola beverages occurs in a highly regulated, automated and sealed environment where it is physically impossible for foreign substances to enter the production line," the defence outline states.

Delta additionally challenged the reliability of the scientific procedures used during the investigation, arguing that the findings were inconclusive.

"The State's reliance on a biological guinea pig test and visual inspection to prove that the beverage was contaminated or unwholesome yielded unconclusive results," the company argued.

It also maintained that the exact nature of the substance had not been definitively identified and that there was no conclusive proof it was hazardous.

The company said products sold through Zimbabwe's secondary market may be exposed to improper handling, storage conditions or deliberate tampering by third parties.

As part of its defence, Delta has requested the court to conduct an inspection of its manufacturing plant.

The trial is set to continue on May 18.