Various Kinder chocolate products have been recalled after being associated with cases of salmonella. Last week the product recall was extended twice and, Ferrero, the manufacturer of the chocolate goodies, temporarily stopped work at a plant in Belgium which was found to be linked to the outbreak of cases.
According to the UK Health Security Agency, more than 60 cases of salmonella in the UK have now been associated with the Kinder products. To keep your mind at rest here's everything you need to know about the urgent product recall.
Which products have actually been recalled?
Last Friday, the UK recall of Kinder chocolate products was extended and now includes all the goodies that have been produced at the Belgium site since June. Initially the recall only covered products that had best-before dates dated up to October 7, 2022.
The recall also involved the same products - Kinder Surprise, Kinder Mini Eggs, Kinder Surprise 100g and Kinder Schokobons. Now the list of products has been updated, and these are the products that have been recalled, with the best before dates attached.
- Kinder Surprise (20g): All dates up to and including January 4, 2023
- Kinder Surprise (20g x 3 pack): All dates up to and including January 4, 2023
- Kinder Surprise (100g): All dates up to and including August 21, 2022
- Kinder Mini eggs (75g): All dates up to and including August 21, 2022
- Kinder Egg Hunt Kit (150g): All dates up to and including August 21, 2022
- Kinder Schokobons (70g, 200g and 320g): All dates up to and including January 4, 2023
Do they know what caused the salmonella outbreak?
European health officials are now trying to establish what caused the salmonella outbreak, but it's believed to be linked to the buttermilk used at the Belgian factory. According to a “Rapid Outbreak Assessment” by the European Food Safety Authority and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, it's been revealed they had matched the same salmonella strain which seems to be affecting people at the moment to samples extracted from a factory in Belgium last December.
The report claimed “the processing step involving buttermilk was identified as the possible contamination point”, and it was noted that hygiene measures were installed, the i reports. It also said the factory “distributed the implicated chocolate products across Europe and globally after negative Salmonella testing”.
On Friday, April 8 the food safety authority in Belgium said the factory was unable to confirm that its products were safe to consume, and consequently “the authorisation for production was withdrawn”. The report said: “This outbreak is rapidly evolving, and children have so far been most at risk for severe infection among reported cases.
“The recalls and withdrawals launched worldwide will reduce the risk of further infections. However, further investigations are needed at the production site to identify the root cause, timing, and possible factors behind the contamination, including the evaluation of the possibility of the wider use of contaminated raw material in other processing plants.”
On Friday the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed that 67 people in the UK were confirmed to have been infected with salmonella, and all the cases have been linked to the chocolate goodies. Symptoms of salmonella are said to include things like diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever.
It's been said the symptoms usually go away within a few days, but sometimes they can become worse, especially in young children and people who have weakened immune systems. Most people affected by the outbreak are said to be under the age of five.
Ferrero confirmed the company was also suspending production at its plant in Arlon, and it's been reported it will only open its doors again “once certified by the authorities”. The company also stated it acknowledged “internal inefficiencies, creating delays in retrieving and sharing information in a timely manner”, and said these had “impacted the speed and effectiveness of the investigations”. To keep up to date with the latest news by WalesOnline sign up to our newsletter.
