PETALING JAYA: The health ministry has recalled Haagen-Dazs’ vanilla-flavoured ice cream after it was found to contain a high amount of ethylene oxide (ETO), a carcinogenic compound used in pesticides.
In a statement, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ministry was notified of the product recall throughout the European market last month.
He said the product recall in Malaysia was voluntarily conducted by the company that imported the ice cream.
“Continuous monitoring is being carried out to ensure that the products are not marketed in this country,” said Noor Hisham.
The vanilla ice cream was produced using vanilla extracts imported from Madagascar that contained ETO above the permissible amount for consumption.
ETO is a carcinogenic chemical gas compound that is often used in pesticide fumigation. It is also used as an active ingredient in cleaning agents that are not allowed to be used on surfaces of items used to store food.
Noor Hisham said those concerned about consuming ice cream made by the company may reach out to the nearest district health facility or contact the ministry at its website or the Facebook page of the ministry’s food safety and quality control division.
Yesterday, The Straits Times reported that Singapore recalled four Haagen-Dazs ice cream products due to the presence of a pesticide.
According to AFP, that same day, Belgium extended its recall order on Haagen-Dazs ice cream products. The country’s authorities had been recalling several Haagen-Dazs products since last Friday.
Spanish regulators had also issued an alert on the ice cream products, EuroWeekly News reported. - FMT
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