Consumers are being warned not to eat Kinder Surprise eggs due to a potential link to a 'salmonella outbreak'.
The Food Standards Agency, along with Food Standards Scotland, issued the warning just ahead of Easter, and urge parents to check if any products already in their home are affected.
Investigations, led by UKHSA, Public Health Scotland, Public Health Wales and Public Health Agency Northern Ireland, have found a link between reported cases of salmonella poisoning across the UK and a specific product produced by the Ferrero company.
As such, consumers in Scotland are being advised not to eat singular 20g Kinder Surprise eggs or 20g Kinder Surprise eggs contained within a three-pack with best before dates between July 11 and October 7, 2022.
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Ferrero has also taken the precautionary step to undertake a product withdrawal and recall, with immediate effect, while investigations continue. The products thought to be affected have all been manufactured at the same factory. Other products manufactured by Kinder are not thought to be affected.
Full details of the products affected can be found in the product recall information notice.
Tina Potter, FSA Head of Incidents, said: "We welcome the precautionary approach being taken by Ferrero and are advising consumers not to eat any of the products listed in the FSA alert. It is really important that consumers follow this advice to avoid the risk of becoming ill with salmonella poisoning.
“We know that these particular products are popular with young children, especially as Easter approaches, so we would urge parents and guardians of children to check if any products already in their home are affected by this recall.
"The food business involved has voluntarily carried out this product withdrawal and recall and we are working closely with them and their competent authorities to identify the precise cause of this outbreak. We are also working closely with UK and international partners including UKHSA and Food Standards Scotland.”
Symptoms of salmonellosis typically resolve themselves within a few days and include diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever. However, symptoms can be more severe and lead to hospitalisation, especially in the very young and those with weakened immune systems.
