Coke water in cancer scare

Coca-Cola today recalled every bottle of its controversial "pure" mineral water Dasani in a cancer scare.

It came after the 95p bottles of water were found to be contaminated with illegal levels of bromate, a potentially cancer causing chemical.

Coca-Cola said all 500,000 bottles of the carbonated water, which is drawn from public water supplies in Sidcup, will be cleared from stores within 24 hours.

The scare also raises disturbing questions about the quality of Thames Water's household supplies in the Sidcup area.

The announcement is a huge blow to Coca-Cola's bid to establish Dasani as one of Britain's leading mineral water brands following its £7 million launch last month.

The Food Standards Agency said the withdrawal was "a sensible measure as bromate is a chemical that could cause an increased cancer risk". Coca-Cola said there was "no immediate health or safety issue".