With summer heatwaves on the rise, a refreshing ice cream is hard to resist. However, health authorities urge caution: the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF) has flagged excessive ethylene oxide levels in multiple ice cream batches, triggering a nationwide withdrawal and recall.
"French health authorities have been alerted to residues of ethylene oxide—a chemical exceeding regulatory limits—in certain ice cream batches," the DGCCRF stated in a June 15 press release. This substance is classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic (CMR) and has been banned in the EU for food and feed preservation since 2011. Importantly, no consumer illnesses linked to these products have been reported, the agency confirms.
Over 60 varieties from brands including Extrême, Netto, Carrefour, Super U, Metro, Picard, Adélie, and La Laitière are impacted. These were sold under their own labels and at retailers like Leclerc and Intermarché.
If you have these products at home, return them to the point of purchase for a full refund or dispose of them safely. For the full list of affected batches, visit the official Bercy website and check regularly for updates.
