The scandal had been brewing for months, but it only broke out a few days before Easter. A total of 150 cases of salmonellosis have been detected in nine European countries, including France, two European surveillance agencies announced on Tuesday April 12. The European Food Safety Authority and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control point the finger at the responsibility of a “Belgian production plant”, after the closure of the Kinder site in Arlon, Belgium. According to the two agencies, the epidemic, which has not caused any deaths at this stage, mainly affects children under the age of 10. If many gray areas remain to be clarified, the involvement of the Ferrero group is beginning to become clearer. Franceinfo traces the thread of this affair.
1On December 15, Ferrero spots salmonella in a factory in Belgium
According to the Italian group, the case begins on December 15 with the detection of salmonella in the factory in Arlon, Belgium. An internal investigation then makes it possible to identify the origin of the contamination, “a filter at the outlet of the two raw material tanks”. At the time, Ferrero removed the filter and tightened its controls but did not notify the Belgian authorities.
“Our factory is located in Belgium and, unlike France, there is no legal obligation to report it.”
The Ferrero groupApril 13, in “Le Parisien”
In a press release dated April 7, Ferrero assures that “materials and finished products have been blocked and have not been delivered” at the material time. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) contradicts this version: “After testing negative for Salmonella [la bactérie à l’origine de la salmonellose]the chocolate products were then distributed in Europe and the rest of the world.”
2On March 25, EU countries are alerted to a “serious” risk of salmonellosis
After the appearance of several cases of salmonellosis in Europe, including a first as early as December 21 in the United Kingdom, scientists are succeeding, “end of March”, to link these infections to the Belgian factory of Ferrero, according to Efsa. On March 25, in the evening, the European Commission sounded the tocsin: a notification (in English) is sent to the Member States via the European alert network food security. The risk is judged “serious”.
3On April 4, Ferrero announces the recall of certain Kinder products in France
At this stage, ten days after the EU alert, France has not yet ordered any withdrawal of Kinder products. It is Ferrero who takes the initiative, recalling “voluntarily” certain batches of Kinder Surprise, Schoko-Bons, Mini Eggs, Happy Moments and Mix made in Belgium. The company wants to be reassuring: “None of our Kinder products placed on the French market has tested positive for salmonella, we have not received any complaints from consumers”she said in a statement.
The same day, Public Health France nevertheless revealed the discovery of 21 cases of salmonellosis, including 15 with an already established link with the consumption of Kinder products. “in the days before the onset of symptoms”. Eight people were hospitalized in France and have since been able to return home. The median age of affected patients is then 4 years.
4On April 8, the Arlon plant is shut down
Accusing Ferrero of providing information “incomplete”I’Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (Afsca) de facto suspends production at the Kinder factory in Arlon, withdrawing its authorization. According to the Belgian authority, the link established at the end of March with the intoxications “has since been confirmed”. On franceinfo, a manager of the agency criticizes the Italian group in particular for having left “Kinder eggs end up on the market”.
“We noticed that the information transmitted by Ferrero lacked reliability, consistency. So the bond of trust is broken.”
Jean-Sébastien Walhin, Afsca communication directoron franceinfo
In the process, Ferrero “acknowledges that there have been internal failures”which affected “information sharing” and harmed “the speed and efficiency of investigations”. The group then presents its “sincere apologies” to its consumers in Europe and the United States and ensures to take “all necessary measures to preserve total confidence” public. From now on, the recall in France concerns all the products concerned, regardless of their expiry date.
5On April 11, Belgian justice opens an investigation
The case finally takes a legal turn with the opening of an official investigation by the prosecutor’s office of the province of Luxembourg, in the south of Belgium, to establish possible responsibilities within the factory located in Arlon. According to the European Food Safety Authority, further research will be “necessary to identify the exact source and precise moment of contamination” and to lean on “wider use of contaminated raw materials in other factories”.
For the time being, Ferrero France still invites its customers to contact it on 0 800 65 36 53, by email at [email protected] or on social networks. The company offers vouchers as compensation and specifies that its consumer service will remain open during the Easter weekend. She points out that “Not all Kinder products dedicated to Easter are affected by the current recall”.