2 Haagen-Dazs products recalled due to presence of pesticide; second recall involving ice-cream brand in a month

SINGAPORE — The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) on Friday (Aug 5) ordered the recall of two products from popular ice-cream brand Haagen-Dazs due to the presence of ethylene oxide, a type of pesticide not authorised for use in food.  

In a news release, SFA said that the two products are the brand’s Belgian Chocolate ice-cream (100ml), which expires on June 8 next year, as well as its Cookies & Cream ice-cream (473ml), which expires on May 27 next year.

The European Commission Food Alerts’ Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed had earlier issued a notification on the recall of the two products from France due to the presence of the ethylene oxide pesticide.

“Although there is no immediate risk to consumption of food contaminated with low levels of ethylene oxide, long-term exposure may lead to health issues. Therefore, exposure to this substance should be minimised as much as possible,” SFA warned.

It said that consumers who have bought the products are advised not to eat them.

Those who may have already eaten the implicated products and have concerns about their health should seek medical advice.

SFA has directed the importer Frosts Food & Beverage to recall the products.

Just last month, the agency directed the same importer of Haagen-Dazs Vanilla ice-cream pints and mini cups to recall those products sold here due to the presence of the same ethylene oxide pesticide.