Salmonellosis in Kinder chocolates: Why Ferrero waited 12 days before recalling its contam batches – The Independent

According to the NGO Foodwatch, the Ferrero group had been warned on March 23 of a possible link between its chocolates and contamination with salmonella. Did Ferrero take too long to recall its chocolates? On April 5, the company launched a massive recall of batches of Kinder chocolates made in Belgium, due to a possible link with cases of salmonella. According to information from the NGO Foodwtach confirmed by Le Parisien, the British authorities had given the alert after Ferrero on cases of salmonella as early as March 23. That is twelve days before the announcement of the withdrawal of Kinder chocolate stores in France. To read also: Salmonellosis in Kinder products: 150 cases identified in nine countries including France, “mainly in children under 10 years old” The group even admitted in a press release that it had identified the bacterium in its factory in Arlon in Belgium from… December 15, 2021. The question now is why Ferrero took so long to recall its products. And why did he not communicate earlier on the detection of the bacterium in his Belgian factory? Read also: After consumer reminders, loss of consumer confidence… Kinder eggs thrown in the trash, sales of Ferrero chocolate collapse Recognized “internal failures” Contacted by our colleagues from Paris, Ferrero explains that the rules in force in Belgium are different from those in France. “Our factory is located in Belgium and, unlike France, there is no legal obligation to report it” justifies the group before claiming to have blocked potentially contaminated products and increased controls. Read also: Recall of Kinder products: The Ferrero factory in Belgium shut down, all Kinders from the site recalled Regarding the alert launched by the British authorities on March 23, the French subsidiary of Ferrero assures that “they do not have the answer to this question”. The brand recognized “internal failures” and the Arlon factory was closed. “As Easter approached, Ferrero tried to keep its Kinder on its shelves despite the alert. If they had reacted earlier, contamination would have been avoided,” lamented Camille Dorioz, campaign manager at Foodwatch. To read also: Recall of Kinder products: the EU opens an investigation after cases of salmonella also linked to the consumption of chocolate in several countries To read also: Salmonellosis: symptoms, treatment… what to do in the event of consumption of Kinder products? Read also: Recall of Kinder products: we reveal the list of batches suspected of being contaminated