Food safety agencies have warned Brits about eating Kinder chocolate products ahead of Easter weekend after dozens of cases of Salmonella were confirmed.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA), Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are reminding people that a range of the brand's products, as well as Schoko-Bon’s, should not be eaten.
As of today (April 15), there are 70 cases linked to the outbreak of the bacteria in the UK.
The majority are children under the age of five.
The harmful products have all been linked back to one of the Ferrero company’s factories, in Arlon, Belgium.
The agencies are continuing to work with Public Health Scotland, Public Health Wales, Public Health Agency Northern Ireland – as well as international public health and food safety authorities – to investigate.
Have you been affected by the salmonella outbreak? Let us know at webnews@mirror.co.uk
Emily Miles, chief executive of the FSA, said: “As we go into the Easter weekend, we are strongly urging consumers to follow the advice in the latest recall notice and to check any Kinder products they might have already bought against the list detailed in the notice, as they may pose a risk to health.
"If they do have any products on the list, they should not eat them and should discard them immediately.
“We have emphasised to the business and the authorities in Belgium the importance of taking a precautionary approach to their recall and trust that they will continue to put consumers’ needs first in any action they take.”
Dame Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UKHSA, added that the reminder is due to the high chance that such products may have been bought and stored as gifts - and could be on Easter trails.
She said: "Salmonella infection can be severe and many children affected in this outbreak have been very unwell and hospitalised, so anyone giving chocolate products to friends or family should take extra care to ensure their Easter gifts are not amongst those products recalled."
She also thanked the parents and guardians who have worked with the agency and other public health authorities in the UK to tell them what their children had eaten before becoming unwell.
"This allowed us to rapidly pinpoint a potential source of infection and helped food chain investigations both in this country and in Europe," Dame Jenny continued.
"We understand this has been a worrying time for these families, and their responses have helped to prevent more children and vulnerable adults being affected.”
Symptoms of salmonellosis – or infection with salmonella - typically resolve themselves within a few days.
However, symptoms can be more severe, especially in young children, those who are pregnant and those with weakened immune systems.
Anybody with concerns that they have symptoms of salmonellosis should contact their GP or call NHS 111.
Salmonella can be spread from person to person as well as from food, so anyone affected should adhere to good hygiene practices, such as washing hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and avoiding handling food for others where possible, if you have symptoms.
Full list of recalled products
The following products have been recalled and regardless of best-before date, should not be eaten.
- Kinder Surprise 20g & 3x 20g
- Kinder Surprise 100g
- Kinder Egg Hunt
- Kinder Mini Eggs
- Kinder Schoko-Bons
