Kinder chocolate factory closed due to dozens of cases of salmonellosis

The Kinder chocolate factory in Belgium has been closed due to dozens of cases of salmonellosis. Writes about it with the BBC.

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The Belgian Food Safety Authority has ordered a recall of all Kinder products made at the Arlon factory, which is owned by Ferrero.

Suspicions of salmonellosis associated with Kinder chocolate have been reported in the UK, Germany, France and Belgium.

Ferrero apologized and acknowledged "internal failures".

The Belgian Food Safety Agency (AFSCA) said the factory was told to close after Ferrero failed to provide full information to investigate the case.

The AFSCA said the investigation is ongoing and the factory will only be allowed to reopen if Ferrero can provide the necessary guarantees to comply with food safety regulations.

Belgian Agriculture Minister David Clarinval said: “Current circumstances make such a decision necessary. The food security of our citizens should never be neglected.”

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All Kinder Surprise, Kinder Surprise Maxi, Kinder Mini Eggs and Kinder Schokobons products are subject to the recall.

The AFSCA advised companies to remove products from shelves and advised people not to eat them.

Ferrero has recalled some Kinder chocolates from stores in the US due to concerns about potential salmonella contamination.

A number of Kinder Surprise chocolate egg products have also been recalled in the UK.

On Friday evening, the UK Food Standards Agency said that none of the recalled products should be eaten, regardless of the expiration date.

All the sweets mentioned were made in the same Belgian factory.

Tina Potter, Head of Incidents at the Food Standards Agency, said: "We stressed to the Belgian business and authorities the importance of being as careful as possible with their recall and we hope they will continue to meet the needs of consumers."

Buyers can contact Ferrero directly for a full refund. Some Kinder chocolates have also been recalled in several parts of Asia, including Hong Kong and Singapore.

Ferrero previously called the recall "precautionary" and said that none of the Kinder products released for sale tested positive for salmonella.

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It comes after more than 60 people in the UK, mostly young children, contracted salmonella in an outbreak linked to Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs.

The European Health Agency said it, too, is looking into dozens of suspected chocolate-related cases of salmonellosis in at least nine countries, including the UK, Germany, France and Belgium.

The statement does not mention Ferrero or any other confectioner, but warns that the reported cases mostly involved children under the age of 10.

Salmonella is a bacterium that can contaminate many types of food. If it is found in food, it will trigger an immediate recall. People can become seriously ill if they eat or even touch contaminated food.

The presence of salmonella will not change the appearance or smell of foods, so it is not possible to determine if they contain the bacteria. Instead of taking risks, you should simply stop using them.

Salmonellosis can be fatal to young children, people with weakened immune systems, or the elderly.

Symptoms include fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Bacteria can enter the bloodstream, but in rare cases, then this is fraught with additional diseases. Arterial infections, endocarditis, and arthritis are possible.

Symptoms can appear as early as 6 hours after eating contaminated foods, sometimes even sooner. Most people recover without any treatment.

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