Italian chocolatier Ferrero is now also removing New Zealand Kinder products from shelves due to the risk of salmonella infection. The New Zealand Food Safety Agency announced this on Tuesday.
Belgium’s federal food agency FASFC withdrew the permit for the Ferrero factory in Arlon on Friday due to possible salmonella contamination. So the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) ordered Ferrero to recall all Kinder products made in Belgium on Tuesday.
“We know that these products, which contain small toys, are especially popular with children, so we urge people to be careful,” said NZFSA’s Vincent Arbuckle. The consequences of salmonella infection can be serious, especially in children under five, adults over 65, and people with weakened immune systems.
Possible symptoms of salmonella infection include fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. Patients usually recover without treatment, but in some cases the consequences can be more serious. So far, no cases linked to Ferrero have been reported in New Zealand. In the European Union and the United Kingdom, more than a hundred salmonella infections have been reported linked to the consumption of, among others, Kinder Surprise and Schokobons.
The cause of the salmonella outbreak at the Arlene Ferrero plant was a filter blockage of two tanks for raw materials. The contamination was discovered on December 15 at the Arlon site.
Belgium’s federal food agency FASFC withdrew the permit for the Ferrero factory in Arlon on Friday due to possible salmonella contamination. So the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) ordered Ferrero to recall all Kinder products made in Belgium on Tuesday. “We know these products, which contain small toys, are especially popular with children, so we urge people to be careful,” said NZFSA’s Vincent Arbuckle. It appears that “the consequences of salmonella infection can be serious, especially in children under five, adults over 65 and people with weakened immune systems.” Patients usually recover without treatment, but in some cases the consequences can be more serious. So far, no cases linked to Ferrero have been reported in New Zealand. In the European Union and the United Kingdom, more than a hundred salmonella infections have been reported linked to the consumption of, among others, Kinder Surprise and Schokobons. The cause of the salmonella outbreak at the Arlene Ferrero plant was a filter blockage of two tanks for raw materials. The contamination was discovered on December 15 at the Arlon site.
