Brown Sugar Chunk (ice cream)

2023: Recall of 1.7 thousand liters of defective products

On May 23, 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is recalling about 1.7 thousand liters of ice cream. The reason is that these products can provoke an acute allergic reaction - up to death.

We are talking about Brown Sugar Chunk ice cream, which comes in 14oz (414ml) cups. It is said that the recalled product contains walnuts that are not listed in the composition. Meanwhile, these nuts have a high degree of allergying activity. In sensitive people, the reaction can often occur in the form of a severe attack of bronchial asthma. Symptoms may also include burning, itching, tingling sensation, and swelling of the tongue, lips, palate, and dösen, perching, etc.

Van Leeuwen Brown Sugar Chunk ice cream

Walnuts are among the nine main food allergens that require special labelling. However, Brown Sugar Chunk ice cream packages for some reason do not mention this component. The issue affects a batch with the number 23P102: this ice cream comes in reddish brown cups, and is listed as expiry date on April 12, 2025. In total, 4096 packages of the product are subject to recall. The reasons for non-conformity of marking and actual composition are established. It is said that at least one complaint from the consumer about low-quality products has been registered.

The FDA notice notes that people who have allergies or a strong sensitivity to walnuts risk facing a life-threatening reaction when eating said ice cream. It is emphasized that the labeling of other batches of the product (different from 23P102) meets all the requirements. Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is one of the largest ice cream producers in the United States (by May 2023).^[1]

Notes