Coca-Cola Shanxi Beverages admitted in a Saturday statement that some of its products contained chlorine in February as the result of a routine maintenance procedure.

Water in production facilities with small amounts of chlorine flowed into water used for producing drinks during a pipe-refitting project on Feb 3, due to errors in operation, the statement said.

The company apologized for the production of nine batches of products containing chlorine between Feb 4 and 8.

The Shanxi Provincial Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision ordered the company to cease production for rectification on April 28. The bureau said that it has found other problems with the company's production lines.

In mid-April, an anonymous company employee told local media that nine batches of beverage products contained chlorine, resulting from a routine maintenance procedure.

The report was disseminated online, leading some retailers to refuse to purchase products.

The company will check products still in its possession and undertake any necessary measures, said Su Yan, a company official.