The Belgian food safety agency (FASFC) announced on Friday April 8 that it had ordered the production of the Kinder chocolate factory, the source of salmonellosis contamination, to be stopped, deploring “incomplete information” supplied by Italian confectionery giant Ferrero.
In the aftermath, Ferrero acknowledged “internal failures”, in a press release. The group “deeply regret this matter” and presents its “sincere apologies to all (the) consumers and business partners”.
“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 poisonings and the Ferrero factory in Arlon (Belgium) “has since been confirmed”.
Recall of Kinder Surprise, Kinder Maxi, Kinder Mini Eggs and Shoko-Bons
“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”announces the FASFC, which also orders the recall of all products in the Kinder range from the site.
“This comprehensive product recall concerns all products of the type ‘Kinder Surprise’, ‘Kinder Surprise Maxi’, ‘Kinder Mini Eggs’, ‘Schoko-bons’, regardless of batch or expiry date”the agency said in a statement, asking “distribution companies to remove all these products from the shelves”.
The health authority emphasizes that it “will closely monitor the steps taken by Ferrero and will only authorize the reopening of the site after it has been able to conclude that the establishment meets all food safety rules and requirements”.