Singapore recalls batch of Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream over pesticide concerns
SINGAPORE — A batch of the Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream product sold in Singapore has been ordered for a recall by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), after imported batches were found to contain small amounts of a banned pesticide in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration said on Monday that it had barred two vanilla ice cream batches recently imported from France from entering customs, after they were found to be tainted with residues of ethylene oxide.
General Mills Taiwan, the Haagen Dazs distributor in Taiwan, has recalled the products. Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety on Tuesday issued a similar order for a recall.
The implicated batches sold in the two North Asian markets are the Häagen-Dazs' vanilla ice cream product sold in 473ml pint tubs with an expiry date of 13 April 2023, and in 9.46-litre tubs for commercial purposes with an expiry date of 26 October.
In response to queries from Yahoo News Singapore, SFA said in a statement on Wednesday (22 June) that ethylene oxide is not authorised for use in food.
As the Häagen-Dazs 9.46-litre tubs have been imported into Singapore, SFA has directed the importer, Frosts Food & Beverage, to recall them from their commercial customers. The tubs are not sold in the retail market, it added. The statement did not refer to the brand's 473ml pint tubs.
While there is no immediate risk to consumption of food contaminated with low levels of the pesticide, long-term exposure to it may lead to health issues.
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