Delta plant inspected over maggot-in-Coke claim
An inspection of Delta Beverages’ bottling plant in Graniteside has been held as part of an ongoing case involving a man who alleges he found maggots in his Coke.
The matter is set to continue in the Harare Magistrates’ Court on 15 July.
Delta Corporation is blaming Zimbabwe’s counterfeit goods trade as it defends itself against claims that a bottle of Coca-Cola contained maggots.
The case opened in May after Harare resident Shepherd Mukonomera alleged he found "unknown foreign objects" inside a 300ml Coke he bought from a street vendor on 19 October 2023.
Mukonomera told the court he had drunk about a quarter of the bottle when he noticed the particles, which he later described as worms. The drink was sent to a government laboratory, which visually identified the objects as maggots. A separate scientific test, however, reportedly found the substance was starch.
Delta, represented by lawyer Chenai Chawafambira, denied the drink came from its factory and said the incident highlights the danger of fake products on the market.
"The market is flooded with counterfeit goods," Delta said in its defence. "There is nothing on record to prove that the alleged contaminated product was produced at our plant."
The company argued that contamination is "physically impossible" in its bottling process, which it described as highly automated and sealed. It has asked the court to inspect its manufacturing plant as part of its defence.
The second accused, vendor Violet Musandukwa, said she was shocked when the customer complained.
"Upon checking the drink, I saw that there were white organisms at the bottom of the Coca-Cola bottle," she told investigators.
Delta also questioned the reliability of the lab results, saying the visual inspection and other tests were inconclusive.
Both Delta and Musandukwa are charged under the Public Health Act. #fblifestyle
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