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):
| Product | Date of minimum durability |
| Häagen-Dazs Plain Vanillaice creamVanilla
- 460 ml (Pints) - 95ml (Mini-Cup) - 2.5G (quantity in litres - 9.5L - bulk) |
[/TD] [TD]
The company's recall is valid for all dates of consumption of these vanilla ice creams before 21/05/2023, regardless of batch number
[/TD] [/TD] [TR] [TD] [/TD] [/TR]
It is clarified that the company is only recalling the above products and does not apply to any other Häagen-Dazs product form/product or flavour.
Therefore, consumers in possession of the above-mentioned ice creams are informed that they should refrain from consuming them and, if they wish, return them to the places where they were purchased.
The company's statement is attached in full.
The Department of Health Services is clarifying to the consuming public that the very low levels of ethylene oxide detected in food withdrawn and recalled from the market, do not pose any direct risk to human health, however, it is estimated based on scientific studies that frequent consumption of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 ingredient of a food has been shown to be contaminated with ethylene oxide at the lowest possible level of detection and that ingredient constitutes the minimum percentage of the food, then that food shall, on the basis of the precautionary principle, be withdrawn and recalled from the market.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.
(AF)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
