Consumers frustrated by Lotte Confectionery ice cream recall

Lotte Confectionery's Fanfare Sand Custard ice cream product / Courtesy of Ministry of Food and Drug Safety

By Kim Jae-heun

Consumers are voicing frustration at Lotte Confectionery for recalling its ice cream dessert, “Fanfare Sand Custard,” after the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) confirmed that the product contains bacteria, according to industry sources, Wednesday. The dessert was produced by Hanbo Confectionery and supplied to Lotte Confectionery.

“I can't believe Lotte sold this ice cream, which many kids enjoy. They should have checked its bacteria level before distributing them throughout the country. The company should have been extra meticulous with the food they sell,” a 33-year-old housewife surnamed Lee said. “I have two children at home and I don't think I am going to buy them anything from Lotte from now on.”

A 42-year-old office worker surnamed Jeon also intended to boycott Lotte Confectionery's products, because this instance is not the first time the company has recalled its food products.

“I think it was seven years ago when Lotte decided to refund controversial Pepero due to a bad smell and weird taste. 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. I don't want to risk my health,” Jeon said.

Lotte Confectionery's refund notification and an apology posted on its official website over an ice cream product that was found to contain high levels of bacteria during a recent test conducted by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Screenshot from Lotte Confectionery's official website

Lotte Confectionery posted a notification on its official website on Oct. 11 saying that the food and drug safety ministry had ordered a recall of all Fanfare Sand Custard products manufactured on August 17, this year, due to the high level of bacteria detected in them. The company apologized for the controversial ice cream products and promised to prevent a repeat.

“It is 450 boxes of Fanfare Sand Custards that were found to contain excessive levels of bacteria that go against the food and drug safety ministry's standards. However, we have decided to recall all 3,400 boxes we sold to retailers in the first half of this year,” a Lotte Confectionery official said. “Those who wish to get a refund: please do so at the store where you purchased the product.”