Salmonella scandal at Ferrero: Raids on the confectionery company - suspected of bodily harm
Created: 06/09/2022, 15:09
By: Stella Henrich
Locations of the chocolate manufacturer Ferrero were searched in Belgium and Luxembourg.
The suspicion: The Italians could have informed the authorities too late about salmonella.
Brussels/Arlon/Munich - According to the Belgian public prosecutor's office, documents and computers belonging to the Italian confectionery manufacturer Ferrero were confiscated during the raids in Belgium and Luxembourg on Wednesday (June 8).
Authorities say the investigation is being carried out on suspicion of “violations of food safety and hygiene”, but also on account of negligent bodily harm and failure to provide assistance.
The raids are directly related to ongoing investigations into the salmonella outbreak, which has left more than 260 consumers - mostly teenagers and children under the age of 10 - sick in several European countries after eating Ferrero Kinder chocolate eggs.
More than one in four even had to go to the hospital, writes
Handelsblatt.de
.
In addition to the popular surprise eggs, children's chocolate bons and numerous Easter sweets were also affected.
As a result, the manufacturer had to recall numerous products worldwide - also in Germany.
Ferrero had to recall batches of various children's products due to suspected salmonella.
(Iconic image) © IMAGO
Salmonella scandal at Ferrero - compensation for affected families
The company management initially did not comment on the recall of the confectionery for a long time and only made a few statements on the company website about the allegations, the
Handelsblatt
comments on the restrictive press work.
Only an interview with the head of the company, Nicolas Neykov, made the extent of the salmonella scandal clear.
He said he was "deeply sorry" for the incident.
He promised compensation for the affected families.
A total of 3,000 tons of products were recalled, and 40 percent of sales were lost at Easter, said Ferrero boss Neykov in an interview with "
Le Parisien
".
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Salmonella scandal at Ferrero - probably no arrests yet
In addition to several locations in the Belgian capital of Brussels, offices in the currently closed Ferrero plant in Arlon were also searched, as well as the headquarters of various Ferrero companies in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
According to the Handelsblatt, there have been no arrests so far.
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The first salmonella sample was discovered in the UK in December 2021.
Ferrero had to close the Arlon plant in April.
The manufacturer recalled all children's chocolate products that were manufactured there and shipped from there.
The product recall is said to have cost Ferrero more than 60 million dollars, writes the
Handelsblatt
, citing the US insurance company Lockton.
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