The Ministry of Health informs consumers that the Ministry's Health Services have received relevant information, both through the Early Warning System for Food and Feed (RASFF), and from the Cypriot distribution company, according to which, following self-checks carried out by the manufacturer, the unauthorised substance, ethylene oxide, was found to be present in the vanilla extract ingredient used in the manufacture of vanilla ice cream, in breach of European legislation.
In view of the above, the Cyprus company concerned, by notice, is recalling and withdrawing from the market the below mentioned foodstuffs (ice creams):
It is clarified that the company is recalling only the above products and does not concern any other form/product or flavour of Häagen-Dazs products.
Therefore, consumers in possession of the above-mentioned ice creams are informed that they should avoid eating them and, if they wish, return them to the places where they were purchased.
Attached is the company's statement in full:
The Department of Health Services is clarifying to consumers that the very low levels of ethylene oxide detected in food withdrawn and recalled from the market, do not pose any direct risk to human health, but it is estimated on the basis of scientific studies that frequent consumption of food on a long-term basis, even at low levels of ethylene oxide, increases the likelihood of developing cancer.
Therefore, by decision of the European Commission and the Member States, the level of ethylene oxide that justifies the withdrawal and recall of a food from the market is the minimum level of ethylene oxide that can be detected in the analysis of a food.
Further widening the protection zone for consumers, the EU has further specified that even if only one component of a food has been shown to be contaminated with ethylene oxide at the lowest possible level of detection and this component constitutes the minimum part of the food as a percentage, then this food shall, on the basis of the precautionary principle, be withdrawn and recalled from the market.
In view of the above, it is reiterated that there is absolutely no reason to cause inconvenience to consumers who may have consumed food which has been recalled in relation to the above issue.
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