Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream recalled in France over banned chemical

Trace amounts of a cancer-causing chemical have been discovered in four of the products

Häagen-Dazs is owned by US company General Mills and is sold all around the world
Published Modified

Four Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream products have been recalled from supermarkets around France due to trace amounts of a carcinogenic pesticide banned in the EU.

The recall is for:

  • 460ml tubs of crème glacée vanille

  • 650ml tubs of crème glacée vanille

  • 95ml tubs of crème glacée vanille

  • A packet of four 95ml tubs of vanilla ice cream called Vanilla Collection

The products were on shelves between November 2, 2021 and July 6, 2022. They all have an expiry date lasting until May 21, 2023.

They are sold in shops all around France including Carrefour, Casino, Franprix Intermarché, Leclerc, Monoprix, Picard and Système U.

US ice cream brand Häagen-Dazs voluntarily recalled the products after it was discovered that they contain small amounts of ethylene oxide, which is commonly used as a pesticide but also has cancer-causing effects.

The company has stated that the ethylene oxide comes from the vanilla extract in the ice cream that is provided by one of the company’s suppliers. It added that the quantities found only slightly exceed the analytical detection limits.

Singapore and Taiwan have also recalled similar products for containing trace amounts of ethylene oxide.

Reimbursement

If you have bought one of these products you should not consume it.

You should return it with the receipt to the store where you bought it and you will be fully reimbursed.

If you cannot find the receipt, you could bring back the full or empty tub and the shop may still offer to reimburse you.

A phone number has been set up to help customers: 0800 333231.

The recall is set to last until September 6 this year.

For more information, see France’s recall service Rappel Conso’s website here.

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