The contamination of one-litre cartons of Sealtest chocolate milk was the result of human error, the milk's manufacturer, Natrel, confirmed in a statement.

Natrel is voluntarily recalling the affected milk after a Toronto man gulped down a potentially contaminated carton of milk and ended up in hospital on Tuesday.

"During sanitation, some food grade sanitizer was accidentally left over in the production lines at the time of filling," the statement from Natrel says, explaining that the incident took place in Don Mills plant.

According to an evaluation of the sanitizer by Cantox Health Sciences International, the solution is not toxic and does not pose a health hazard.

"Under a worst-case scenario, the contaminated product is believed to contain 99.5 per cent water and 0.5 per cent of a 'soap and vinegar'-like cleanser that is comprised of several ingredients, all of which have been shown to be not acutely toxic," says a statement from Chemicals Group Director Karen Levins, at Cantox.

Management will be reviewing procedures at the plant "to ensure that such an incident does not occur again," the statement from Natrel says.

Reporting from Toronto, where the 29-year-old man bought and consumed the suspect carton, CFTO reporter John Musselman said he is expected to recover.

But authorities are keen to ensure no one else gets sick.

In a statement issued by the Toronto Board of Health on Tuesday, officials said blame is being laid on the one-litre carton of milk he bought at a suburban convenience store.

When he fell ill and realized what had happened, he called police from hospital.

"A detective from 31 Division reported that a batch of one-litre cartons of Sealtest chocolate milk appears to contain a cleaning liquid of some sort," the health agency's statement read.

"It is a clear liquid with a strong odour."

Acknowledging "several reported adverse reactions associated with this product," the Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued a warning Tuesday, that the public should not consume Sealtest brand 1% Chocolate Milk bearing the UPC 0 64420 00170 2.

The affected batch -- all of which was distributed in Ontario -- is stamped with a Feb. 07 expiry date.

Other than paying attention to those markings, the CFIA warned consumers they might not otherwise realize the potential harm.

"Milk contaminated with sanitizer may not look or smell spoiled," the federal inspection agency said.

Anyone who bought the affected product is advised to either dispose of it immediately, or return it to the store where it was bought.

For more information, consumers and industry can call one of the following numbers:

• Natrel Consumer Services 1-800-501-1150
• CFIA at 1-800-442-2342. 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time -- Monday to Friday

With files from CFTO News in Toronto