Dozens of millions of euros in damage: Ferrero manager comments on chocolate recall

Created: 05/27/2022, 13:21

By: Theresa Kuchler

Ferrero had to recall more than 3,000 tons of products because of salmonella.

Nevertheless, hundreds of people are sick.

A manager now commented on the extent of the damage.

Munich – Hundreds of sick children, more than 3,000 tons of recalled products and financial losses in the tens of millions: The salmonella outbreak in a Belgian Ferrero factory before Easter has devastating consequences.

For the first time since the gigantic recall of the "kinder" products, a high-ranking manager of the chocolate manufacturer has spoken out.

The bacterium Salmonella Typhimurium was discovered in December 2021 during our own checks at the Belgian Ferrero factory in Arlon.

So Ferrero knew about the salmonella hazard, which probably emanated from a buttermilk tank in the production facility.

The company immediately took the necessary steps, Nicolas Neykov, general manager of Ferrero France, told the French newspaper

Hygiene measures have been implemented and the products and the processing environment have been tested more intensively for salmonella.

Ferrero: Manager comments on the consequences of the salmonella outbreak

The result of the tests: negative.

Because the bacterium was no longer detected, Ferrero continued to sell the chocolate products.

All over Europe and worldwide.

On December 21, the first positive Salmonella sample was taken in Great Britain.

Only a few weeks later, in mid-February, there were finally frequent cases of infection there.

The consequences of such a Salmonella infection should not be underestimated.

Malaise, fever, diarrhea - anyone who ate contaminated chocolate products could become seriously ill.

In the case of the Ferrero Salmonella case, this mainly affected children under the age of ten.

Many even had to be hospitalized.

In total, more than 260 cases of salmonella in "kinder" products were reported in the EU alone.

Neykov and the company are very sorry.

"What happened is unacceptable," said the manager.

Despite the gigantic Ferrero recall: the danger from contaminated "kinder" products still exists

The Belgian Ferrero plant had to close in April – on the orders of the authorities.

There was a gigantic recall of the "kinder" chocolate products.

All sweets that were produced in Arlon and shipped from there were affected.

According to a statement by the EU health authority ECDC, the recall has reduced the risk of more people becoming ill.

However, because the products have such a long shelf life and they are possibly stored at home, there could still be other cases.

Ferrero had to recall tons of products because of salmonella.

Now the extent of the damage is known.

(Iconic image) © Manuel Geisser/imago

Neykov emphasized to

"There was never any deception or an attempt to hide the truth." He also defended the Belgian production facility: "Arlon is not a waste factory, 36 million euros have been invested there in recent years."

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But how did the contamination in the factory come about?

Either through contaminated raw materials or through people, according to the manager.

The details should now be clarified by further investigations and investigations against the Ferrero Group.