The Department of Health advises against consuming regular Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream; Wisynco withdraws the affected products
The Hhealth Mthe ministry advises against consuming 2 specific batches of Häagen-Dazs regular vanilla ice cream, if they have the product in their possession.
Some of the ice cream was reportedly purchased ahead of a notice from the manufacturer to pull the product from shelves earlier this month after batches were found to contain traces of a pesticide.
Affected lots have expiry dates between JJuly 5 and 18, in pint, pint, mini cup, half-gallon and bulk packs.
The Hhealth Ministry says based on information provided to customers by local distributors, Oisynco gband Limitated, during routine quality checks by the manufacturer, traces of a chemical substance, known as ethylene oxide, were detected in one of the ingredients used in the production, in two batches of products.
Levels of the detected substance exceeded the minimum allowable limit by a marginal amount.
The ministry said ethylene oxide is known to have adverse health effects and the substance should not be directly consumed or used as an ingredient in the preparation of food or drink.
He said the manufacturer had issued a voluntary global recall of these products and Oisynco group limited also recalled the items.
He added that Oisynco gband started removing shelf products.
The opinion of Hhealth Ministry, comes a few days after the one issued by the VSconsumer Abusiness VSomission, CAC after an urgent notification has been sent by the EEuropean yousion for an early warning for dangerous non-food products.
The CAC urged people to check their refrigerators for the affected item, stop consuming it, and return the item to the point of purchase for a full refund.
In the meantime, the Ilocal Ddistributor of Häagen-Dazs ice cream sought to assure citizens that plain vanilla ice cream affected by traces of pesticides does not pose a risk to food safety.
Wisynco’s VSchief Eexecutive Oofficer Anew Mahfood explained that the minute amount of pesticide found in the affected ice cream is just above that approved by the FDAand as such, the manufacturer errs on the side of caution with the takedown notice.
Mr Mahfood said the makers theorize that the pesticide residues came with the source vanilla plant and that the extract from the vanilla bean was used in the processing segment when making the ice cream.
He sought to ensure that only 2 specific batches of vanilla ice cream are affected and that all other ice cream is safe for consumption.
Mr Mahfood said the affected ice cream had already been removed from the shelves in Jamaica, and they returned to the company’s storage facility at Kingston.
The affected ice will be destroyed.
