Ferrero International SA is recalling more of its Kinder chocolate eggs just before the Easter holidays, citing a link to salmonella outbreaks in a number of European countries.
The Italian candy maker announced on Thursday it had acquired data showing a genotype match between the salmonella cases reported across Europe and a Ferrero plant in Arlon, Belgium. The salmonella originated in a filter at the outlet of raw material tanks in mid-December, Ferrero said.
Ferrero, which had previously recalled some potentially contaminated products in the UK and Ireland, widened the scope of the recalls Thursday to include other chocolates made at the Belgian factory. These include batches of Kinder Surprise, Kinder Mini Eggs and Kinder Schokobons.
As of Tuesday, 134 cases of salmonella had been reported across Europe, with “specific chocolate products” identified as the likely cause, the European Food Safety Authority said in a statement. Most of the cases were found in Britain, among children under 10 years old.
“We deeply regret this matter and would like to thank authorities for the ongoing collaboration and recommendations,” Ferrero said, adding it has replaced the filter and stepped up its quality checks at the factory.
In response to the outbreak, Ferrero’s Australian unit is recalling Easter baskets and some chocolate eggs beginning Thursday, although single 20-gram and three-pack eggs are not affected. The company’s Canadian unit is also recalling 10 Kinder products due to possible contamination.
Brantford is home to Ferrero’s Canadian headquarters and manufacturing plant.