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Lotte Confectionery, the South Korean confectionery firm known for its snack and beverage brands, is in the hot seat after issuing a recall for one of its ice cream products. The company recalled its Fanfare Sand Custard ice cream bar after the country’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) confirmed this week that it contains harmful bacteria.
As per The Korea Times, the ice cream was actually made by Hanbo Confectionery, but it is being supplied to Lotte Confectionery thus, it was the one that issued the recall. The choco pie maker informed its customers about the issue by posting a note on its website on Tuesday, Oct. 11.
The company said it was ordered by the food and drug safety ministry to stop the sale of its Fanfare Sand Custard ice cream bars that were made on Aug. 17. Lotte Confectionery indicated that the agency discovered a high level of bacteria in the said dessert. It then apologized to the consumers and vowed to prevent the incident from happening again.
Despite the apology and promise, the consumers were reportedly furious and expressed frustrations over the ice cream recall. Many of them said that the dessert is often consumed by kids so the company should have checked the product first before distributing them all over the country. Others said that they are planning to boycott Lotte Confectionery’s products since this is not the first time that it has recalled its food items.
"I can't believe Lotte sold this ice cream, which many kids enjoy,” a housewife said about the recall. “They should have checked its bacteria level before distributing them throughout the country and the company should have been extra meticulous with the food they sell."
An office worker further said, "This is not the first time that the company placed a massive recall on one of its popular snack items and there could be more that I am not aware of and I do not want to risk my health."
In any case, the ice cream has been recalled as its bacteria count has exceeded the allowable safe limit. The contamination was found in a batch that was produced in August, and thousands of bars were affected.
Infostock Daily reported that people could return the affected ice cream to where they purchased it. Lotte Confectionery said that to ease the worries of the consumers, they will accept the return of all the Bbangpare Sand Custard products regardless of the manufacturing date.
