JAKARTA - The Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) has withdrawn the Haagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream product in pint and mini cup packaging from the market in Indonesia due to findings that the content of Ethylene Oxide (EtO) exceeds the threshold.
The recall of the French product was announced through the official website www.pom.go.id.
EtO is a pesticide that functions as a fumigant. The finding of EtO residues in food is an emerging issue that started with a notification by the European Union Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (EURASFF) in 2020.
The Codex Allimentarius Commission (CAC) as an international organization under the World Health Organization (WHO) has not set a maximum limit for EtO residues so that the settings vary in each country.
Reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, July 20, in the announcement, BPOM stated the background of the product withdrawal in connection with information from EURASFF received by the Indonesia Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (INRASFF) on July 8, 2022.
EURASFF informs that the content of Ethylene Oxide (EtO) in the product exceeds the limit allowed by the European Union (EU). Therefore, BPOM considers it necessary to convey information on the recall of the Haagen-Dazs brand Vanilla Ice Cream product to the public.
Previously on July 6, 2022, the relevant authorities in France through RappelConso and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) published similar information on July 7, 2022. Product recalls were carried out voluntarily by manufacturers.
Meanwhile, on 8 July 2022, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) ordered importers to recall the product.
The recalled products are Haagen-Dazs Vanilla Flavor Ice Cream in pint packaging and 100 ml and 473 ml mini cups imported from France registered with BPOM and circulating in Indonesia.
To protect the public, BPOM has instructed importers to withdraw from circulation the two Haagen-Dazs Vanilla Flavor Ice Cream products and expand the recall to other types of packaging, namely bulkcan (9.46 L).
As a precautionary measure, BPOM has also instructed importers to temporarily stop the distribution and sale of other Haagen Dazs brand ice cream products with a composition containing vanilla flavor until the product is confirmed to be safe.
BPOM oversees and ensures the withdrawal and temporary suspension of product circulation in accordance with applicable procedures.
Other Haagen-Dazs ice cream brands registered with BPOM can still be circulated in Indonesia.
The POM is in the process of conducting a policy review regarding EtO, including monitoring the latest developments in international food safety regulations and standards, as well as conducting sampling and testing to determine the level of exposure.
Head of BPOM Penny K Lukito, Deputy of Food Supervision of BPOM, and Director of Supervision of Processed Food Circulation of Deputy 3 of BPOM Ratna Irawati who confirmed this matter have not yet commented.
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