ARCHIVED - Nestlé withdraw 46 ice-cream brands from Spanish supermarkets
Batches of ice-cream sold in Spain have been found to contain traces of ethylene oxide
Nestlé, the largest food and drinks company in the world, has withdrawn a total of 46 varieties of ice-cream from the Spanish market after they were found to contain traces of ethylene oxide, according to consumers’ association Facua.
It has been clarified by the manufacturers that only specific batches of the products listed are affected and that the amount of ethylene oxide contained in the products is minimal, but due to the substance’s carcinogenic properties the products are being withdrawn as a precautionary measure. All of them were manufactured by Froneri, which makes ice-creams bearing the brand names Nestlé, Milka, Toblerone, Nuii, Oreo, Princesa, La Lechera and Smarties, but Facua are complaining that until now the only company which has published a full list of products to be withdrawn is Mars, who specify that Twix, Snickers and M&Ms products are among those contaminated.
On the other hand, Froneri state that they have taken “proactive steps” to protect the public in collaboration with public health authorities, also stating that the quantity of ethylene oxide present is so small that it barely represents a health threat at all.
Facua´s own list of the products affected can be consulted here, complete with information regarding affected batches in the Carrefour, Coviran and Día supermarket chains, and anyone in possession of them is advised not to consume them but to return them to the establishment where they were purchased and demand a refund.
Meanwhile, the Spanish food and nutritional health agency Aesam has issued a communiqué in which it expresses concerns over the presence of ethylene oxide residues in foodstuffs, also adding that the amount present is below the legal limit of 0.02 milligrams per kilogram.
Image: Facua