The Belgian supervisory authority Afsca announced on Friday that it would revoke the production license for the Arlon plant. All products from the factory must therefore be recalled.
Working with several food safety and health authorities in Europe, Ferrero said this has shown a genotype comparison match between reported salmonella cases in Europe and the Arlon plant. After it was clear that the filter was the cause, the materials and finished products were blocked and not released, and the filter was immediately replaced. In addition, “the already high level of controls on semi-finished and finished products has been significantly strengthened”.
“The matter is currently being investigated in collaboration with the food safety authorities,” assured Ferrero. “The recall, which was initiated as a precaution and relates to products manufactured in Belgium, will be implemented with the 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 and Ferrero products are not affected by this recall. “We deeply regret this matter and would like to thank the authorities for their ongoing cooperation and recommendations.”
The broadcast did not explain why Ferrero did not recall the products already in circulation at the time. Numerous European countries have recalled the children’s products. According to the EU authorities, 105 confirmed salmonella cases and 29 suspected cases have been registered 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.
At the beginning of the week, cases of salmonella were first reported in Great Britain and France. In the UK, it was mainly young children who contracted salmonella, the PA news agency reported on Monday. Shortly thereafter, Ferrero recalled some batches of Kinder Surprise Eggs. The food safety agency said the recall had “a possible link to a salmonella outbreak.”
In France, too, Ferrero recalled products at the beginning of the week after 21 cases of infection, according to the health authorities in Paris. According to them, it is genetically the same salmonella that is responsible for an outbreak of salmonella diseases in Great Britain and Ireland.
After Australia, the USA has also recalled the products in the children’s confectionery series. Because “Happy Moments Chocolate Assortment” and “Mix Chocolate Treats Basket” could be contaminated with salmonella and therefore pose a possible health risk, Ferrero is voluntarily withdrawing the goods from the market, according to a company announcement that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Thursday (local time). ) published. The two products were manufactured in a factory where a salmonella infection had been detected. It is a precautionary measure. Cases of illness in the USA have not yet been reported.
(SERVICE – A detailed list of the affected products can be found on the AGES homepage at )