The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) has warned that there are several batches of vanilla-flavored Häagen-Dazs ice cream in circulation that could be contaminated with ethylene oxide. It is a product from France (Ref: ES2022/208) that could have several batch numbers and several preferred consumption dates.
From the AESAN, they ask that if you have one of these ice creams at home, check that it does not belong to the contaminated batches, and if it does, it is not consumed and taken to the point of purchase to be returned. The voice of alarm has arisen in France, specifically through the European Food Alert Network (RASFF), and although there has not yet been any health case in Spain, the AESAN has issued the statement.
The contamination appears to come from one of the ingredients, Madagascar vanilla beans. The product itself is a 460 ml tub of ice cream from the Häagen-Dazs brand with a vanilla flavor (EAN: 3415581101935), and a best before date between 07/06/2022 and 05/21/2023; and an assortment of four 95 ml ice creams called the Minicup Vanilla Collection (EAN: 3415581586718), also with a best before date between 07/06/2022 and 05/21/2023. The batch numbers affected are:
But what is ethylene oxide and how does it affect health?
This substance is not new, since a year ago France already had to withdraw more than 7,000 products due to contamination with it, many of them were also ice cream. Something similar happened almost exactly a year ago with Nestlé brand ice cream. Ethylene oxide is banned in the European Union, as it is highly toxic and has been shown to have carcinogenic effects on those who consume it.
Ethylene oxide is often used as a pesticide against insects or mold, however, in the European Union it has been banned for more than 20 years
It is a flammable gas derived from petroleum and is often used to create plastics, polymers, polyester or antifreeze. In addition, it can also be used in small amounts as a pesticide against insects or to prevent mold in food storage or agricultural products, such as in the production of spices and seeds in Asian and African countries.
According to an AESAN document on frequently asked questions regarding ethylene oxide, “ethylene oxide is classified as a possible mutagen, possible carcinogen and possible reproductive toxicant. This is the reason why its use has been prohibited in the EU for more than 20 years.”
“Taking into account the nature of most of the raw materials in which ethylene oxide has been detected (spices and additives), the level of exposure to the active substance is very low, due to the low levels of consumption of these products. or because its percentage present in the final product is small, when it has been used as an ingredient. Therefore, we are generally in a scenario of punctual exposure and in very small quantities, and the existence of acute adverse effects with the levels detected is unlikely”, they conclude.
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