A statement from the State Veterinary Administration of the Czech Republic reported that the Froneri ice cream factory in Poland, responsible for Milka products, accidentally contaminated several batches with ethylene oxide.
A gas used as an antifreeze that is totally flammable with carcinogenic effects. Over 250,000 popsicles have to be withdrawn from Czech stores.
These include 250,000 popsicles, 15,000 multipacks of six and eight, and about 37,000 ice creams in 480 ml trays.
The products are marked as Milka mini cornet vanilla chocolate 8×25 ml (multipack), Milka mini ice cream vanilla chocolate 6x50ml (multipack), Milka chocolate nut 100 ml, Milka caramel crunch 100 ml, Milka chocolate and vanilla 100 ml and Milka ice cream chocolate vanilla cup 480 ml. Consumption data for defective batches are from 2022 to May 2023.
Ethylene oxide can damage DNA and causes cancers including Lymphoma, leukemia, stomach and breast cancer.
The possible health risk derives mainly from the direct handling of the substance or from a hypothetical continued consumption in large doses.
Czech health authorities advise users who have one of the affected products in their homes to “refrain from consuming them” and return them to where they bought them for a full refund.
Froneri, owned by Nestlé and a private equity firm, is reportedly the largest producer of ice cream in Europe by volume, and the second-largest in the world.
