The Ferrero group factory in Arlon, Belgium, on April 8, 2022 (BELGA/AFP/ERIC LALMAND)
Two weeks before Easter, the Italian manufacturer Ferrero acknowledged Friday “internal failures” and apologized after the shutdown of its Kinder chocolate factory in Belgium, causing cases of salmonellosis in several European countries.
In the middle of the chocolate season, the manufacturer has launched a recall of all products produced at its factory in Arlon, in the Belgian Ardennes, namely: Kinder Surprise, Kinder Mini Eggs, Kinder Surprise Maxi 100g and Kinder Schoko-Bons. This concerns all the countries where they are distributed, and regardless of the expiry date. At the start of the recalls, Monday in France, it concerned more limited expiration periods.
These chocolates are usually sold in France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands. Dozens of cases of salmonellosis, a disease caused by bacteria and which can cause diarrhea and abdominal cramps, have been identified to date, particularly in France and the United Kingdom.
After investigation, the Belgian food safety agency (FASFC) ordered Friday the stop of the production of the factory at the origin of these contaminations, in Arlon.
“For several weeks, more than a hundred cases of salmonellosis have been identified in Europe”, indicated the FASFC, stressing that a “link” established at the end of March between these intoxications and the Ferrero factory in Arlon ( Belgium) “has since been confirmed”.
“After investigations (…) and following the findings of recent hours that the information provided by Ferrero is incomplete, the Agency is today withdrawing authorization from the Ferrero production plant in Arlon”, she says, also ordering the recall of all products in the Kinder range from the site.
“Ferrero acknowledges that there were internal failures, causing delays in retrieving and sharing information within the time limits set. This impacted the speed and efficiency of investigations,” the group acknowledged in a statement. .
“The Arlon plant represents approximately 7% of the total volume of Kinder products manufactured worldwide over one year,” Ferrero said.
Ferrero admitted having detected salmonella contamination of its products on December 15 in its factory in Belgium (dpa/AFP/Archives/Ole SPATA)
The confectionery giant this week recalled its products not only in Europe, but also in the United States, where no case has been declared however to date.
Salmonellosis, caused by bacteria called salmonella, is a leading cause of death from food poisoning. Its symptoms appear on average after one to three days of incubation. They are most often those of sometimes acute gastroenteritis: diarrhea and abdominal cramps, slight fever, even vomiting.
– Massive recalls in Europe –
According to the latest report from Public Health France on Tuesday, 21 cases of salmonellosis have been identified by the National Reference Center for Salmonella at the Institut Pasteur in France. Out of 16 cases questioned, 8 people were hospitalized, all since discharged, and no death has been reported.
On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the British authorities told AFP that they had counted 63 cases of salmonella contamination in the United Kingdom.
Ferrero says its investigation has shown “a genotypic match” between reported salmonella cases and its Arlon plant. The Italian group acknowledged that it had detected salmonella contamination of its products in this factory in Belgium on December 15.
The company had identified a filter at the outlet of the two raw material tanks as the source of the contamination and had removed it. All “finished and semi-finished” products produced in this factory in the five days before December 15 had been blocked.
But the massive recalls in recent days of Buitoni pizzas (Nestlé group) and these Kinder chocolates raise questions about food safety in France and Europe, which relies heavily on the self-control of food companies.
The NGO Foodwatch regretted the weakness of the penalties incurred by defaulting companies. “This type of case rarely goes to court”, she denounced, wishing for “dissuasive and exemplary sanctions, so that all operators take their responsibilities”.
In France, the group has set up a toll-free number (08 00 65 36 53) as well as an email address ([email protected]). He says he receives nearly 20,000 calls per hour in France.
© 2022 AFP
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