Ferrero has decided to close its production plant in Arlon in Belgium again, after the discovery of salmonella. The same factory where contaminated Kinder had been produced in the spring of 2022.
One year after the contaminated Kinder scandal by salmonella, Ferrero closes its factory in Arlon in Belgium. “Following the discovery of salmonella at the Ferrero Arlon factory, during the checks carried out by our teams, we took the decision last week totemporarily stop the production concerned. Part of the production lines remain suspended, in order to carry out the necessary cleaning and sanitation measures” explains the manufacturer in a press release of July 6, 2023. It was in this factory that the April 2022 scandal. A few days before Easter, the manufacturer announced the recall of all batches of Kinder chocolates produced in the factory due to salmonella contamination. Kinder surprise, Kinder Rabbit, Schoko-Bons, Egg… Kilograms of goods had to be brought back to the store to be destroyed. Despite this massive and nationwide recall, 118 cases of salmonellosis had been identified by Public Health Franceof which 22 people hospitalized. No deaths had been recorded.
For now, Ferrero wants to be reassuring : “No end products have tested positive. This temporary suspension will have no impact on employment in the factory. Every step of the process is carried out in full and transparent cooperation with the Belgian food safety authority (AFSCA) .”
The bacterium discovered “in the baseboards of the wall”
According The Parisianthere bacteria was found in the “wall plinths”, “very far from the production lines”. Salmonella are bacteria responsible for salmonellosis. Salmonella infections manifested by acute gastroenteritis (diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, etc.) often accompanied by fever within 48 hours following the consumption of contaminated products. These symptoms can be worse in young children immunocompromised subjects, pregnant women and the elderly. In the cases more serious, this infection may progress to a septicaemic or localized form, which may require hospitalization.