Six Godiva ice cream products found with banned pesticide
Hong Kong authorities have urged the public not to consume six Godiva ice cream products imported from France, because a banned pesticide was found inside.
The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department on Thursday said a stabilizer used in the six products was found with a pesticide, ethylene oxide, which is not authorized by the European Union.
The center's spokesman urged consumers not to consume the affected batches of the products if they have bought any. The trade should also stop using or selling the products concerned immediately if they possess them.
The six Godiva products are:
1) Chocolate Cheesecake Flavoured Ice Cream
2) Milk Chocolate Frozen Confection with Dark Chocolate
3) Belgian Dark Chocolate Ice Cream
4) Vanilla Flavoured Cocoa Infused Ice Cream
5) Caramel Coffee Frozen Confection with Dark Chocolate Chips
6) Strawberry Ice Cream with Dark Chocolate Chips
All of them have a volume of 100 milliliters, and are imported by Godiva Chocolatier (Asia) Limited.
Their best-before dates are:
1) October 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023
2) October 31, 2022, March 31, 2023 and April 30, 2023
3) October 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023 and April 30, 2023
4) October 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023
5) November 30, 2022 and March 31, 2023
6) October 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023
A spokesman said the center received a notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) of the European Commission that the stabilizer used in the above-mentioned products was found with ethylene oxide. According to the information provided by the RASFF, the affected products have been imported into Hong Kong.
The center immediately contacted the local importer concerned for follow-up. The batches mentioned above were found in a preliminary investigation.
Since ethylene oxide is not authorized by the EU, for the sake of prudence, the importer has stopped sale and remove from shelves the affected batches of the products upon government instructions and has initiated a recall.
Members of the public may call the relevant importer at 3765 5818 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.
The center will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.