Full vintage Coke Bottle removed for violating food policy
Summary: cmyers1994 experienced an issue with eBay removing a listing for a vintage full Coke bottle due to a violation of the food policy, despite stating the contents were not for consumption. christworks advised listing the item in a collectible category and avoiding any mention of the contents for sale. They suggested describing the bottle as factory sealed and selling it as a collectible only. christworks also recommended creating a new listing with fresh photos to prevent removal by eBay’s AI and cautioned that persistently listing could result in a ban, advising alternative selling venues if issues persist.
I listed a vintage full Coke bottle with a Coke Classic Cap and ebay removed the listing stating it violated the food policy. I stated in the listing The Contents of the Bottle are not for consumption. Is there a certain way I should have listed this? I have more full Coke bottles I was going to list. Here's what ebay said.
"Please understand that you listed a food item on site; however, didn't mention its expiration or use by date in the listing details. Therefore, your listing was in breach of our policy. You may relist your item with specific expiration date mentioned in the listing. Also, kindly be aware that due to hygiene reasons, sale of expired food items is not permitted. So, food products must be delivered to the buyers before its expiration date is passed."
Thanks for any understanding on this
inhawaii
·Sep 6, 2026 at 9:12 PMIn big, bold, red letters....
EXPIRED.
NOT FOR CONSUMPTION.
SOLD AS A COLLECTABLE ONLY.
christworks
·Sep 6, 2026 at 6:14 PM · Edited@cmyers1994 This is likely a category issue and a wording issue.
Anything like that which is sealed and still has food or drink in it, must be listed in a collectible category.
You also cannot market the contents whatsoever because the contents cannot be sold. You can only sell the bottle. You are giving the contents to the buyer.
Incorrect: Vintage Coke Bottle Full of Coke Classic with Cap
Correct: Vintage Coke Bottle Factory Sealed Cap
In the description you can emphasize the bottle is still factory sealed, which implies it still has the original contents in it. It is also fine to state the item is being sold as a collectible only. You do not need to state it should not be consumsed. That type of language could trigger another removable.
Listing in this manner complies with eBay policy and thus regulations/laws.
If you are going to attempt to list again, you want to start with a new, fresh listing. You also want to take brand new photos. The reason is because reusing anything from the old listing will trigger the AI to take the listing down again, even if you have listed it as I've instructed you how.
There is no guarantee that listing in this manner won't result in another takedown, even if the listing 100% complies. If it should be taken down a second time, absolutely do not list it again. Sell that at flea market or find someone who has an antique booth. It does not matter if there are a thousand others listed. It is not worth risking your account over a coke bottle.
cmyers1994
OPSep 6, 2026 at 7:22 PMThank you so much for the information. I'm going to change my other listings - just in case!