Following an inspection, food producer General Mills, found traces of 2-clorethanol which not permitted for sure in foods sold in the EU but is approved in other countries. Photo: Shutterstock.

Following an inspection, food producer General Mills, found traces of 2-clorethanol which not permitted for sure in foods sold in the EU but is approved in other countries. Photo: Shutterstock.

Haagen-Dazs ice cream products containing vanilla have been recalled from Luxembourg and Belgium shops after a discovery of 2-chlorethanol in some batches, announced Belgian food regulator AFSCA.

Following an inspection, food producer General Mills, found traces of 2-clorethanol--a recognised reaction product of ethylene oxide. The compound is not permitted for use in foods sold in the EU where it is qualified as a carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic substance. It is approved in other countries. The presence of clorethanol is believed to be linked to a General Mills vanilla supplier.

“The levels of the detected substance marginally exceed authorized thresholds with regards to regulatory standards,” states the ice cream producer on its website.

A list of ten products with an expiry date between March and May 2023 has been published by the Belgian food authority. The ice creams will be removed from the shelves of supermarkets. In Luxembourg, they are distributed via Carrefour, Colruyt, Delhaize and Match. Those who have purchased some of the listed products are asked to not consume them and contact General Mills to receive a reimbursement.

Haagen-Dazs products that do not contain vanilla have not been affected, stated the AFSCA.

This is the second time this year a food producer has had some of its products pulled from the shelves in Luxembourg. In April, as traces of salmonella had been found in batches produced in a factory located in Arlon, on the Belgian border.

Related articles