Ferrero's recall of "kinder" products has already been extended twice - now the public prosecutor's office is investigating
Created: 04/11/2022, 16:10
By: Magdalena von Zumbusch
Chocolate eggs, mixed bags and chocolate bons: A wide variety of products from the “kinder” brand should not be consumed under any circumstances due to the recall.
Ferrero admits mistakes.
Update from April 11, 2022, 3:48 p.m .:
On Monday (April 11), the Belgian public prosecutor reported that they had started investigations against the Ferrero group.
The investigations began following the closure of a Ferrero plant in Arlon, Belgium.
Due to the salmonella cases in several countries, which are probably due to Ferrero products, Ferrero had to stop production at the Arlon plant for the time being.
The Belgian food safety authority Afsca announced on Friday that it would revoke the production license for the plant.
In addition, all products would have to be recalled from the factory.
The salmonella cases in several European countries are now also occupying two EU authorities.
The EU food safety authority EFSA and the EU health authority ECDC are currently investigating the Ferrero case and want to publish a statement on it in the coming week.
Update from April 8, 2022, 6:11 p.m .:
Ferrero has admitted to errors in handling the recalls of some products.
The Italian company on Friday acknowledged "internal inefficiencies that caused delays in recalls and information sharing."
Therefore, the investigations into the case were not carried out as quickly and efficiently as necessary, according to the statement, from which the news agencies Ansa and Adnkronos quoted.
A salmonella case was reported to the company in December at a factory in Arlon, Belgium, as confirmed by Ferrero France in Luxembourg.
The plant was temporarily closed on Friday, and the Afsca supervisory authority withdrew the production license.
Ferrero on handling recalls: "Deeply saddened by what happened"
"Ferrero is deeply saddened by what happened," the company's headquarters in Alba, in the Piedmont region of Italy, said in a statement.
After the incident, everything possible is being done to ensure that customers' trust is not lost.
At the same time, the company announced that, as in other countries, it would also recall those sweets in Italy that had been manufactured in the factory in Belgium.
There have been no cases of salmonella linked to Ferrero products in Italy, it said.
Ferrero recall extended again: Has the group known about problems for a long time?
Update from April 8, 2022, 10:25 a.m .:
Once again, Ferrero is recalling six more "kinder" products, and the recall is being expanded again.
These are mostly Christmas products that expire in April.
If you still have some of the Christmas sweets in your closet, you should check the following list before you eat them.
With the latest extension of the recall to six new "kinder" products, the Ferrero company has also admitted that the first cases became known much earlier than previously thought.
According to
Focus
, Ferrero admitted on Thursday that salmonella had already been detected on December 15, 2021.
According to Focus
, almost half of all infections reported so far come
from Great Britain, where the first case was detected on January 7th.
So far, four confirmed and three suspected cases are known in Germany.
A number of other EU countries are affected: Cases have been reported in Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and probably also France, according to
Focus
.
The recall in Germany is being extended to be on the safe side, according to Ferrero
Ferrero states in a press release (to be found on the company's website) that so far none of the products on the German market have tested positive for the salmonella pathogen.
So the recall is voluntary.
The company is working with food authorities and retailers to have the endangered products removed from the German market, which should have happened by now, Ferrero said in the press release.
New "kinder" products with a risk of salmonella (as of April 8th): Ferrero recall extended again
Kinder Surprise Maxi Classic Egg Christmas 100g,
EAN VB: 4008400230726
(Best before April 20, 2022)
Kinder Surprise Maxi Pink Egg Christmas 100g,
EAN VB: 4008400231723
(Best before April 20, 2022)
Children's mix boots 219g,
EAN VB: 8000500371435
(Best before April 20, 2022)
Children mix gift bag 193g
EAN VB: 800050037055
(Best before April 20, 2022)
Kids Maxi Mix Plush 133g,
EAN VB: 4008400270326
(Best before April 20, 2022)
Children's mix table advent calendar,
EAN VB: 8000500242131 (best before 20.04.2022)
Background on the Ferrero recall: what is salmonella and why is it dangerous?
A salmonella disease is a typical food infection that causes diarrhea, summarizes the Federal Center for Health Education.
The pathogens multiply in the gastrointestinal tract.
The most common way for salmonella to get into the human digestive tract is through food, according to the Federal Center's website.
It is also worth knowing that bacteria multiply much faster on unrefrigerated food.
Sudden diarrhea, headache and abdominal pain, general malaise and occasional vomiting are common symptoms of salmonella disease, according to the Federal Center for Health Education website.
Slight fever often occurs, in rare cases it can also lead to severe disease progression, such as a bloodstream infection (sepsis), with high fever.
First report from April 7, 2022, 4:51 p.m.:
Alba – The Italian group Ferrero is recalling a number of “children” products.
The reason is possible contamination with Salmonella (Salmonella Typhimurium).
By April 5, 134 cases had already been reported across Europe.
The first case was detected in the UK on January 7, 2022.
Since February 17, 2022, cases have also been identified elsewhere in Europe.
As of April 5, 2022, a total of 134 cases had been reported, mostly in children under the age of ten.
There is now a warning for Germany as well*.
The group has apparently started a recall * as a precaution in this country.
The following "children" products are affected, the consumption of which is strongly discouraged:
Kinder Surprise 3er Pack
(3x 20g) Classic Egg
EAN VB: 4008400240329 Date of
minimum durability: 10.04.
– 06/21/2022
Kinder Surprise Pack of 3
(3x 20g) Pink Egg
EAN VB: 4008400480329 Date of
minimum durability: 10.04.
– 06/21/2022
Kinder Surprise Pack of 4
(4x20g)
EAN VB: 4008400240527 Date of
minimum durability: 21.08.2022
Kids Chocolate Bons
125g, 200g, 300g, 200g + 25g for free, 300g + 50g for free, 350g, 500g
EAN VB:
5413548280189
5413548283128
4008400621722
4008400280127 4008400621920 8000500269633
5413548015552
Minimum
privacy
date: 28.05.
– 08/28/2022
Kinder Schoko-Bons White
200g
EAN VB: 8000500289877 Date of
minimum durability: 31.05.
– 09/29/2022
Kinder Surprise Maxi Classic Egg
100g
EAN VB: 4008400231327 Date of
minimum durability: 21.08.2022
Kinder Surprise Maxi Pink Egg
100g
EAN VB: 4008400230825 Date of
minimum durability: 21.08.2022
Kinder Mini Eggs Hazelnut
100g
EAN VB: 8000500196809 Date of
minimum durability: 21.08.2022
Kinder Mini Eggs Cacao
100g
EAN VB: 8000500361207 Best before
date: 21.08.2022
Kinder Mini Eggs Kinder Schokolade
100g
EAN VB: 8000500234303 Date of
minimum durability: 21.08.2022
Kinder Mix Colorful mixture 1
32g
EAN VB: 4008400313221 Date of
minimum durability: 21.08.2022
Kinder Mix basket
86g
EAN VB: 8000500350911 Date of
minimum durability: 21.08.2022
Kinder Mix bag
193g
EAN VB: 8000500371466 Best before
date: 21.08.2022
Kinder Happy Moments
162g
EAN VB: 8000500284391 Date of
minimum durability: 28.05.
– 08/28/2022
Kinder Happy Moments mini mix
– Greetings Edition 162g
EAN VB: 8000500284391 Date of
minimum durability: 28.05.
– 08/28/2022
Kinder Surprise Maxi Egg Smurfs
100g
EAN VB: 8000500269008 Date of
minimum durability: 19.08.
– 09/18/2022
Kinder Mini Eggs Mix
250g
EAN VB: 8000500295168 Best before
date: 21.08.2022
Kinder Maxi Mix Plush
133g
EAN VB: 4008400271323 Date of
minimum durability: 21.08.2022
All other Ferrero products, including other Kinder products in Germany, are not affected by this recall.
According to the Hamburg consumer advice center, a number of supermarkets take back the products even without a receipt.
Net, Edeka, Rewe, Penny, Kaufland, Aldi and Lidl are mentioned here.
Customer service can be reached under the following contact details, as far as currently available:
Ferrero MSC GmbH & Co. KG Consumer Service 60624 Frankfurt
Tel.: +49 (0)69 / 665 666-0 (Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.)
Mail: consumerservice@ferrero.com
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