The super-premium brand of ice-cream Haagen-Dazs has been hit with an urgent recall after being detected with dangerous chemicals in their ingredients.

According to the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), the Haagen-Dazs vanilla flavour ice cream products which were reported to have high levels of carcinogenic element Ethylene Oxide (ETO) that has a potential link to cancer have been pulled from supermarket shelves in Malaysia and Singapore as well.

Image credit: Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)

Here are the affected Haagen-Dazs products:

Haagen-Dazs Vanilla (Pint) with Best Before Dates: 4 Jul 2022 to 21 Jul 2023
Haagen-Dazs Vanilla (Classic Collection Mini Cups) with Best Before Dates: 4 Jul 2022 to 21 Jul 2023

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has stated:

“Since the issue was reported and notification received by the Malaysian Ministry of Health in July 2022, appropriate action has been taken where the importing company has voluntarily withdrawn the ice cream products involved in the market.”

Ethylene Oxide (ETO) is a chemical gas compound that is carcinogenic and is often used to carry out fumigation to kill pests such as insects. It is also used as an active ingredient in detergents but it is not allowed to be used on surfaces that come into contact with food. The pesticide has been classified as carcinogenic by the World Health Organisation and exposure to it can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, headaches, breathing difficulties and even death.

Inquiries can also be made through the official SISPAA’s website or the Facebook page of the Food Safety and Quality Division (BKKM).