Will the bells be able to hide Kinder eggs in the gardens this year? Two weeks before Easter, Ferrero, the parent group of the milk chocolate brand, announced on Monday April 4 the recall of Kinder products for suspicion of Salmonella in France.
- At least 21 cases of salmonellosis in France
“These recalls follow an epidemic of salmonellosis in several European countries. The French health authorities have thus been informed by the National Reference Center for Salmonella of the Institut Pasteur of the occurrence in France of 21 cases of salmonellosis spread over the the entire territory. Eight of them were hospitalized and have all returned home, explains the ministry of health. The median age of cases is 4 years.” However, only 15 patients could be interviewed by the DGS at this stage.
If Ferrero assures that none of the Kinder products “put on the French market have tested positive for salmonella, we have not received any complaints from consumers”, the French health authorities nevertheless establish a link between the cases. detected and the consumption of these products.
Thus, the investigations carried out by Santé Publique France “have highlighted the consumption of certain Kinder brand products subject to this withdrawal-recall in the days preceding the onset of symptoms in the 15 patients who were able to be questioned at this hour,” the ministry added.
- Hundreds of tons of chocolate
The batches concerned are those of Kinder chocolate products manufactured in a factory in Arlon, Belgium, due to a “potential” link with cases of salmonella, the Italian group said on Monday. “Ferrero is working with public authorities” on “a potential link to reported salmonella cases,” the company said in a statement.
“None of our Kinder products placed on the French market has tested positive for salmonella, we have not received any complaints from consumers,” she says. However, Ferrero France is “voluntarily” recalling a series of products made in Belgium. The recall concerns the equivalent of hundreds of tons of chocolates, said a spokeswoman.
“These cases of salmonellosis have the same genetic strain as the strain responsible for an outbreak in the UK and Ireland, associated with the consumption of certain Kinder products subject to this withdrawal-recall”, specifies the ministry.
- Several Kinder products
This concerns Kinder Surprise 20g (by one, by three, by four and by six) and 100g with expiry dates between the end of June 2022 and the end of October 2022; Kinder Schoko-Bons with expiry dates between the end of April and the end of August 2022; Kinder Mini Eggs with expiry dates between the end of April and the end of August and finally Kinder Happy Moments, Kinder Mix: 193g, Basket 150g, Plush 133g, Bucket 198g, with expiry dates at the end of August 2022.
- Avoid consumption of products
Ferrero advises not to consume the product, keep it and contact its consumer assistance team on 08 00 65 36 53 and [email protected].
In Belgium, the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (AFSCA) on Monday called on consumers not to consume these products “following a series of outbreaks of Salmonella declared in various Member States”. However, no cases have been confirmed in the country. British authorities reported a recall as early as Saturday for the same reason.