The authorities in Portugal have ordered the withdrawal from sale of a batch of 50,000 cans of Coca-Cola after members of the public reported finding contamination in the drink.

Coca-Cola's Portuguese representatives said carbon particles had seeped from a filter at a water treatment plant but were not a health risk.

Portugal is the latest country to withdraw Coca-Cola products from sale.

Health concerns began about the company's drinks when more than 100 people in Belgium and France fell ill.

Coca-Cola took out big newspaper advertisements on Tuesday to apologise for the health scare which was blamed on errors in two factories.