Salmonella in children's chocolate: Ferrero products have already caused more than 260 cases throughout Europe

Created: 05/19/2022, 10:57 am

By: Laura May

Salmonella in the chocolate factory: In April, the Italian confectionery manufacturer Ferrero had to close its plant in Arlon, Belgium – 260 cases have now been confirmed, mainly among children.

Arlon – Instead of colorful plastic figures, there have been nasty surprises from the popular Ferrero chocolate eggs in recent weeks.

After the spread of the bacterium Salmonella Typhimurium in the Ferrero chocolate factory in Arlon, Belgium, the company admitted "internal inefficiencies" in early April and launched an international recall.

During the factory operator's own checks at the end of December, the bacterium was first discovered in a buttermilk tank at the plant.

Ferrero recall: more than a dozen European countries affected

A whole range of products such as surprise eggs and chocolate candies are affected.

Despite the recall, countless sweets are likely to be waiting unnoticed in pantries to be devoured.

Because: The children's products have a long shelf life and not all parents find out about the dangerous bacterial contamination.

Ferrero recall: correct EAN code – this is how you recognize an affected product © Ole Spata/dpa

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Ferrero recall: 260 cases confirmed, mostly affecting children under the age of ten

EU authorities have now registered 266 confirmed cases.

There are also 58 suspected cases, as the EU health authority ECDC announced on Wednesday, according to

in Stockholm.

More than a dozen European countries are affected, including Germany.

In most cases, children under the age of ten are affected.

Many of them had to be hospitalized.

It remains unclear how high the number of unreported cases is.

The agency will continue to monitor developments.

In December, the company implemented hygiene measures and increased sampling and testing of the products and the processing environment.

After negative salmonella tests, the chocolate products were then sold throughout Europe and worldwide.