Make sure your Diet Coke is the real thing

On Thursday, Feb. 22, a member of the Harvard community purchased a 20-ounce bottle of Diet Coke that contained a foreign substance that made the person briefly ill. The bottle was purchased from a vending machine in Loker Commons. At this time, no other instances of contaminated bottled beverages have been reported on campus.

Initial reports are that the Diet Coke had a smell similar to diesel fuel, but the exact nature of the foreign substance has not yet been determined and is being investigated.

The University would like the Harvard community to be aware of this incident. Consumers should inspect similar bottled beverages before consuming them and report any unusual contents to the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD).

Anyone with any knowledge of this incident or who becomes aware of information regarding this or similar incidents is encouraged to contact the HUPD at (617) 495-1212.