Fireball Whisky is being pulled from shelves in Europe because it contains too much propylene glycol, an additive that is a food stabilizer and prevents evaporation, reports Fox News.

Finland's state alcohol monopoly, Alko, announced Monday that it is taking Fireball Whiskey off store shelves due to toxicity risk. Alko is Finland's only source for retail high-point beer, wine and spirits.

In Europe, propylene glycol is used limitedly in food processing. According to Finland officials, Fireball liqueur is produced using North American food regulations, which does not meet the European Union regulator's stricter standards regarding the additive.

Tech Times reports that Finnish and Swedish officials consider Fireball's chemical levels too high for safe consumption. Propylene glycol is the main reason for the recall.

Although regarded safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), high levels of propylene glycol have been known to cause rare allergic reactions. The FDA has classified propylene glycol as an additive that is "generally recognized as safe" for use in consumer products, including human and animal food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, paint and plastics.

While the FDA has approved its use in edible American products, it's important to note the U.S. Centers for Disease Control lists propylene glycol on its Toxic Substances Portal.

Below are common uses for propylene glycol:

  • Mild sweeteners
  • Used to produce different polymers (plastics and polyurethanes)
  • Used as a base for deicing solutions
  • Used in e-cigarette liquid as a preservative

Finland and Sweden have regulations that prevent high levels of propylene glycol from being used in foods. The only way Fireball Whiskey has a chance of being sold in those countries again would be with a new, less toxic formula.

Fireball Whiskey is one of the fastest growing alcohol brands in the U.S. Fans of the wildly popular liquor can rest assured it is still being sold in America.

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