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28.10.2021 - Foods

Numerous product recalls due to ethylene oxide in ice cream

The detection of ethylene oxide topped nationwide food warnings in 2020 and is likely to lead the list again this year. Ice cream was also heavily affected this year.

What is ethylene oxide?

Ethylene oxide is a colorless gas. It can kill both pests and bacteria. Due to these properties, it can be used for sterilizing food. When applied to food, a carcinogenic degradation product called 2-chloroethanol can form. Its use in food has been banned in the EU since 1981. However, in many other countries, the use of ethylene oxide is still widespread. Due to its mutagenic effect, even the smallest amounts of ethylene oxide or its degradation products are very harmful to consumer health.

What is the problem and how does ethylene oxide get into ice cream?

In November 2020, ethylene oxide was detected in sesame seeds from India. This brought the unauthorized use to the attention of food monitoring. Since then, ethylene oxide has been found in a wide variety of foods. In addition to sesame-containing products like chocolate bars and mueslis, the substance was also detected in food supplements, baked goods, and ice cream. Due to this issue, thousands of products have been removed from the market across Europe.

Almost 1500 ice cream products alone had to be removed in the EU because ethylene oxide was found, making the product potentially dangerous to consumers. But how does the substance get into ice cream?

Since mainly dry products are fumigated, all imported dry goods can potentially be the source of ethylene oxide. Especially additives like locust bean gum (E410) and guar gum (E412) were contaminated with ethylene oxide in the past.

What consequences can the detection of ethylene oxide have?

If ethylene oxide is found in your goods, it can have severe financial consequences for you and permanently damage your reputation.

If the carcinogenic substance is found in your goods, the product is most likely not marketable. The product cannot be sold. If the goods are already on sale, they must be taken back or even publicly recalled.

What can you do as a manufacturer of ice cream?

For industrial manufacturers of ice cream, it is recommended to have raw materials tested for ethylene oxide as part of in-house controls.

For smaller and artisanal manufacturers of ice cream, these tests can also be useful if a raw material is processed into a large quantity of goods. Another option is to have the supplier confirm that no fumigation has taken place and that the absence of ethylene oxide and its degradation products has been verified.

In our Tentamus laboratories, we regularly carry out tests for ethylene oxide. We provide fast and reliable results.
If you have any questions, our customer advisors are happy to assist you.

Sources:

Foodwatch via Link

BVL via Link

BfR:

- via Link

BAV Institut via Link