The National Food Authority has reacted today, after the concerns regarding the import of ice cream from France, where through an announcement on social networks, AKU informs about the procedures that have been followed and the measures taken in the framework of guaranteeing food safety in order to protect health of consumers.
AKU announces that on 30/07 of 2021 at 11.49 PM, the RASFF system informed that Albania was on the list of 47 countries that were supplied with the ice cream product produced by a French company, which contained the unauthorized substance. ethylene oxide" in the stabilizer "lygomme" used for the production of ice cream.
Upon receiving the notice, the AKU says that it has verified the imported quantity for the respective lots identified in the notice, as well as started the inspection of food business operators in order to follow the traceability of the product and withdraw it from the market and dispose of it.
"Imports for this product according to the lots determined by the RASFF system were carried out during the period from 01.03.2021 to 22.05.2021 (the date before the release of the notification from the RASFF system dated 31.07.2021). Within a period of 7 days from the receipt of the notification, the inspection was carried out in the respective entities and then the entire quantity of this product was blocked and destroyed", informed AKU.
The head of KLSH, Arben Shehu, yesterday (July 16) raised the 'alarm' in the Economy and Finance Commission, as he revealed that ice creams contaminated with Ethylene Oxide were shown in Albania during 2021. He accused AKU of not taking any measures in the right time.
According to the audit, it turns out that 13.2 tons of ice cream with ethylene oxide were consumed, out of 17.5 tons of ice cream that were bought in total. According to the findings, the products were sold mainly in: Tirana, Durrës, Fier, Elbasan, Vlorë, Berat, Lushnje, Korçë, Shkodër, Sarandë, Krujë, Burrel, Peshkopi, Tropoja, Lezhë.