Caution for lovers of Kinder chocolates. Two weeks before Easter, it is not a liver attack that is likely to affect candy lovers, but an epidemic of salmonellosis. Since Monday April 4, the Ferrero group has been recalling products made in Belgium, due to a link “potential” with cases in several European countries. In France, 21 people with salmonellosis have been identified, including six for whom the link with Kinder brand products remains to be established, announced the Directorate General of Health (DGS) in a press release. Franceinfo answers five questions about the recall of products from the famous chocolate brand.
1Which products are affected?
In all, four Kinder brand products are affected, according to the press release from the Ministry of Health. These are eggs Kinder Surprise 20g (sold by one, three, four or six) and 100 g with expiry dates between the end of June and the end of October 2022, of sweets Kinder Schoko-Voucherswith expiry dates between the end of April and the end of August 2022, of eggs Kinder Mini Eggs with expiry dates between the end of April and the end of August and boxes Kinder Happy Moments sold in 193g packs, 150g basket, 133g plush, 198g bucket which expire end of August. In total, this recall concerns the equivalent of hundreds of tons of chocolates, said the Italian group in a press release.. These products were manufactured in the factory in Arlon, Belgium, located on the border with Luxembourg, according to the newspaper The evening.
2What if we bought these chocolates?
Ferrero asks consumers in possession of these products not to consume them and to throw them away. But before throwing everything in the trash, the group invites consumers to take a photo of the packaging with the product references (the use-by date and the barcode) to get a refund. A telephone number was immediately made available to customers, but it is now full. Consumers are invited to use this email address, until a support number is operational again: [email protected].
3How many people are sick?
On Tuesday, the general directorate of health identified 21 cases of salmonellosis, including 15 which are linked “potential” with the recalled products. Among these patients, whose median age is four years, eight were hospitalized before returning home. Six other patients have not yet been questioned by the health authorities, so the link with Kinder products has not yet been established for them. Other cases have also been detected in the United Kingdom, where 63 cases of salmonella contamination were listed on their territory, according to aspokesperson for the British health authorities. Products have also been recalled in Northern Ireland, Germany and Sweden, Ferrero reported.
4What is salmonellosis?
Salmonellosis is a disease caused by a bacteria called salmonella or salmonella. It causes two types of infection in humans: gastroenteritis and typhoid and paratyphoid fevers. These last two are the most serious, but it has been years since they have been observed in Western countries, specifies pediatrician Jean-François Pujol, contacted by franceinfo. This type of infection is due to contamination of raw, undercooked or infected food after cooking, specifies the Paster Institute. Even if it is eliminated from 65°C, it can remain dormant in dehydrated foods, such as powdered milk. This infection is the second leading cause of gastrointestinal infection in humans.
5Who are the people most at risk?
This type of infection can be dangerous for the elderly, infants, pregnant women or immunocompromised people, warns the Institut Pasteur. The Directorate General for Health recalls that food infections caused by salmonella result in gastrointestinal disorders, often accompanied by fever, within 48 hours of consuming the contaminated products. People who present these symptoms should consult their doctor as soon as possible. Among these people at risk, young children are more vulnerable to salmonellosis than adults. But not all children who have consumed a product contaminated with salmonella will necessarily fall ill, reminds Jean-François Pujol. In an adult in normal physical condition, gastroenteritis disappears without treatment after 3 to 5 days, according to the Institut Pasteur.