Recall sends Israeli Coke sales plummeting

Israeli sales of Coca-Cola drinks have dropped dramatically following a recall of bottles with contents that smelled of sulfur.

Stores are reporting a drop of up to 30 percent after the recall of bottles manufactured in November became public, according to reports. The recall began last week and was expanded Monday.

The smell comes from a batch made using carbon dioxide gas contaminated with benzene and sulfur, which the Central Bottling Company has assured Israelis is not harmful to consumers.

A survey conducted for Israel’s Channel 10 News found that 12 percent of respondents said they would never drink Coke products again.