Ice cream 'tests positive' for Covid with 4,800 tubs affected as probe launched

An investigation is under way in China after three samples of ice cream tested positive for Covid-19.

The discovery was made in batches produced by Tianjin Daqiaodao Food Company in the northern municipality of Tianjin.

It is not yet known how the virus came to be found inside the product, but an expert today said it is not cause to panic.

The ice cream was made with milk powder from New Zealand and whey powder from Ukraine, investigators found.

Virologist Dr Stephen Griffin, from the University of Leeds, told Sky News : "It's likely this has come from a person, and without knowing the details, I think this is probably a one-off.

"Of course, any level of contamination is not acceptable and always a cause for concern, but the chances are that this is the result of an issue with the production plant and potentially down to hygiene at the factory."

And he added: "We probably don't need to panic that every bit of ice cream is suddenly going to be contaminated with coronavirus."

More than 1,600 employees have been quarantined and are undergoing testing, according to reports in China.

It is thought 4,836 Covid-contaminated boxes of ice cream were produced.

People who bought boxes from the batch have been urged to make themselves known to health services.MirrorFollow the Official Rokna NEWS Telegram Channel For More and fresh NEWS.