HEINEKEN the brewers said yesterday it was destroying millions of its
characteristic green export beer bottles after finding glass splinters
in some.
Heineken spokeswoman Annemiek Louwers said in Amsterdam that the
company would destroy a total of 17,000,000 bottles and must recall
around 3,500,000 from seven countries. About 1% of the 17 total may
contain splinters, she said.
Eight batches were affected, and drinkers should check the batch
numbers in the bottom left corner of the rear label on the bottles.
Anyone with any of the following numbers -- 3200, 3201, 3211, 3214,
3223, 3224, 3231, 3232 -- should return the lager to wherever it was
bought.
Ms Louwers said the operation would involve ''a considerable amount of
money'' but could not specify how much. Beer bottles are being withdrawn
from Britain, Sweden, Hungary, Hong Kong, Israel, Finland, and Austria.
The bottles were recently introduced in Britain, and are known as the
''green meanie''.
''We don't want to take any risks,'' Heineken spokesman Chris Woerts
said. ''It may only be one case (affected), but even that would be one
case too many.''
Heineken had initially thought it must also recall bottles from the
Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, but the spokeswoman said the
company had learned bottles there were safe. The company said exports to
the United States and the rest of its beer range were unaffected.
Heineken said it was warning the public of the danger through a series
of press advertisements.
''The big question is not the 1% of exports over the last two weeks,
it is confidence in the short term,'' said Mr Michael Oertli, an
investment analyst at UBS Philips and Drew in London.
Heineken said the splinters were caused by defective glass used to
make the export bottles, but ruled out any question of sabotage or foul
play.
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