French company IPC-Sa was condemned by the European Union on Monday after it was found to be distributing a range of cleaning products under the name of “Cyclone B” – reminiscent of the “Zyklon B” gas used by the Nazis to murder concentration camp prisoners.

The offending name was brought to the EU’s attention by CEO of the European Jewish Agencies (EJA), Rabbi Menachem Margolin, who called it “terrible ignorance” in the best of cases.

Rabbi Margolin added: “There is no doubt that it is the filthiest name possible for a product that wishes to broadcast hygiene.”

In addition to learning of its offensive name, the EU also discovered that its own cleaning contractors had been using the product in Parliament. They were immediately instructed to sever ties with the brand.

In response to the EU’s complaints, IPC-SA said they had not meant to cause offence, and claimed that the “B” in the name stood for “biology”. They have now promised to change the name of the detergent.