At least 70 complaints have been received concerning the product, which is on sale in the UK.
Some people have reported an unpleasant smell after peeling back the green foil lid, while others have complained of a burning sensation in the mouth after trying to eat the rice pudding product. As a result, around 220,000 pots of the rice pudding dessert are being recalled.
Early investigations show that a raised level of methoxyphenol (guaiacol) has been detected in the product. Although guaiacol, at a raised level, may cause a burning sensation, the risk of any other more serious health effects is very low.
The UK's Food Standards Agency(FSA) has advised consumers that while the spoiled product may cause a burning sensation in some people, the risk of any other more serious health effects is very low. The agency has advised people who have these desserts with the affected best before date of 7 February 2004 in the refrigerator at home that they may wish to avoid opening or eating the product.
Most of the affected batch of product will have already have been sold by major supermarkets, but it may still be on sale in cornershops or smaller retail outlets. The FSA says that some of the products were sold in multi-packs, so consumers may have products remaining in their refrigerator at home.
Müller is investigating what has lead to the spoilage in the affected Apple Müllerice desserts. They are sold singly or in multipacks containing six 200g white plastic pots - three of apple and three of strawberry. The strawberry desserts are not affected.