Belgian supervisory authority Afsca announced on Friday that it would revoke the production license for the Arlon factory. All factory products must therefore be recalled.
Working with several food safety and health authorities in Europe, Ferrero said this showed a genotype comparison between reported cases of salmonella in Europe and the Arlon plant. Once it became clear that the filter was the cause, materials and finished products were blocked rather than released, and the filter was immediately replaced. In addition, “the already high level of controls over semi-finished and finished products has been significantly strengthened”.
“The matter is being investigated in collaboration with the food safety authorities”, assured Ferrero. “The recall, initiated as a precaution and related to products made in Belgium, will be implemented with trading partners in all target countries for the affected batches of Kinder Surprise Eggs, Kinder Mini Eggs, Kinder Surprise Maxi 100g and Kinder Schokobons.” All other children’s products and Ferrero are not affected by this recall. “We deeply regret this matter and would like to thank the authorities for their continued cooperation and recommendations.”
The broadcast did not reveal why Ferrero did not withdraw the products that were already circulating at the time. Several European countries have collected the children’s products. According to EU authorities, 105 confirmed cases of salmonella and 29 suspected cases have been recorded so far. According to the Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), there has not yet been a case in Austria. Christmas items also fall under the affected products.
Earlier this week, cases of salmonella were reported for the first time in Britain and France. In the UK, it was mostly young children who contracted salmonella, the PA news agency reported on Monday. A short time later, Ferrero recalled a few batches of Kinder Surprise Eggs. The food safety agency said the recall had “a possible link to a salmonella outbreak”.
Also in France, Ferrero recalled products earlier this week after 21 cases of infection, according to Paris health authorities. According to them, it is genetically the same salmonella that is responsible for an outbreak of salmonella disease in Great Britain and Ireland.
After Australia, the US also recalled the children’s confectionery series. As “Happy Moments Chocolate Assortment” and “Mix Chocolate Treats Basket” may be contaminated with salmonella and therefore pose a potential health risk, Ferrero is voluntarily withdrawing the products from the market, according to a company announcement that Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Thursday (local time). ) published. Both products were manufactured in a factory where a salmonella infection was detected. It’s a precautionary measure. Cases of illness in the US have not yet been reported.
(SERVICE – A detailed list of affected products can be found on the AGES homepage at )