Ferrero recalls also in Australia, Israel and Sweden
Created: 2022-04-08 04:51
Almost two weeks before Easter, Ferrero in Germany is recalling a number of batches of various children's products - including chocolate bons with a best-before date between May and September 2022. © Laurie Dieffembacq/BELGA/dpa
Every year the Easter baskets are filled to the brim with chocolate bunnies and other sweet treats.
However, a salmonella alarm at Ferrero now overshadows the anticipation of the big snack.
Sydney – After Germany and other European countries, Ferrero also recalled numerous children's products in Australia shortly before Easter.
These may be contaminated with salmonella, the authority responsible for food safety (FSANZ) announced on Thursday.
The sweets, including Kinder Surprise eggs, were sold in major supermarket chains such as Coles and Woolworths.
"Consumers should not eat these products and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund," the agency's website said.
The products concerned were therefore manufactured in Belgium.
In Israel, Ferrero is also recalling several children's products as a strict precaution.
However, so far there have been no reports of salmonella contamination, the local Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday.
No test has been positive yet
Ferrero did something similar in Sweden.
In the Scandinavian country, too, several chocolate products have now been recalled as a precaution, as the company wrote on Ferrero's Swedish children's website.
A possible connection to the reported cases is being investigated - even if no test of children's products that have come onto the market has been positive for salmonella.
In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Ferrero has also launched a voluntary recall of certain batches of children's products that were manufactured in Belgium.
So far, nothing has been reported in these countries about concrete cases of suspected salmonella.
more on the subject
Ferrero recall extended to some Christmas items
Salmonella: Ferrero recalls products in EU countries
Suspected salmonella in children's products - Ferrero starts Europe-wide recall
Ferrero had previously recalled children's products in Germany.
The EU food safety authority EFSA and the EU health authority ECDC started investigations.
So far, 105 confirmed salmonella cases and 29 suspected cases have been registered.
Most of them in children under the age of ten, as the authorities announced on Wednesday.
So far, four confirmed and three suspected cases are known in Germany and four confirmed cases in Sweden.
Great Britain, Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Norway are also affected.
Children had to go to the hospital
The outbreak is marked by an unusually high proportion of children requiring hospitalization, some with severe symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, EFSA and ECDC also said.
Certain chocolate products have been identified as a likely route of infection.
The recall in Germany affects batches of Kinder Surprise Eggs (pack of three) with a sell-by date between April and June 2022, as well as Kinder-Schoko-Bons and Kinder-Schoko-Bons White with a sell-by date between May and September 2022.
According to the information, the products Kinder-Surprise Maxi (100 grams), Kinder-Mini-Eggs (100 grams) and Kinder-Mix packs containing one of the above-mentioned items with a best-before date between August and September 2022 are also being recalled. All items were made in the same factory, according to Ferrero.
dpa