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 Beer bottles are being withdrawn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.