Dasani was withdrawn in the United Kingdom in 2004 after bromate levels exceeded safety limits.
Coca-Cola launched Dasani in Britain in February 2004. The product was purified tap water, and the purification process included reverse osmosis and mineral adjustment. During production, bromate formed when ozone used for disinfection reacted with bromide naturally present in the source water.
The detected level was above the limit set for drinking water in the United Kingdom. Coca-Cola withdrew the product and canceled its British rollout soon afterward. The episode also attracted criticism because the brand was marketed as purified water while being sourced from the public water supply.
Dasani’s withdrawal is distinct from recalls involving benzene in soft drinks or contamination of spring water. Bromate is a chemical by-product, and the problem arose during treatment rather than from a foreign object entering sealed bottles.