It is products with the ingredient fruit kernel flour, which is used as a thickener, among other things, that have been recalled.
SIA ice cream has recalled ice creams that contain lemon curd or mango sorbet and Hemglass is recalling smarties ice creams in multi-packs.
- Fruit kernel flour is a fully approved additive, but in this particular case the ingredient is contaminated with a substance called ethylene oxide which must not be used in Europe, says Jan Sjögren, unit manager at the National Food Administration.
In addition, Skånemejeriet is withdrawing cheese cream and Orkla food is recalling, among other things, orange marmalade and potato croquettes.
- There is no acute risk around this, if you have bought a product with this substance, you should not be worried about it.
You should not continue to buy it and the company makes sure that it disappears from the market.
Prohibited for many years
Ethylene oxide is used in some parts of the world as a pesticide against pests.
Although it is not allowed in the EU, it still happens that the substance appears in food controls.
- It has been banned for a long time and is considered carcinogenic.
As we now know, these are additives that are made from raw materials outside the EU, says Jan Sjögren.
More can be recalled
The recall of the products is a joint initiative of the European Commission and all EU Member States.
- For Sweden, there are now a few products involved, but we follow the development and it can not be ruled out that we will find more products that have this topic in them.
How common is it for you to recall like this?
- Withdrawal from the market is relatively common.
With ethylene oxide, we had a case during the winter and then it was perhaps not surprising that there would be additional products now.