The Kinda chocolate produced by Ferrero's Belgian factory was suspected of being infected with Salmonella, and Ferrero China responded that the Chinese product was not affected.
On the evening of April 9, Ferrero China's official Weibo issued a statement saying that recently, a specific batch of Kinda products produced in Belgium was voluntarily recalled by the company due to suspected salmonella disease. The full line of Kenda products produced and imported from China to Chinese mainland (including in transit and official channels for sale) are not in any way related to the factories involved and are not covered by the recall.
At the same time, Ferrero said in the statement that he has suspended production at the Arlon plant in Belgium and is actively cooperating with the local food safety department to investigate the Salmonella incident.
Recently, Ferrero's chocolate brand Kenda is suspected of linking a number of cases of salmonella infection in children in Europe. Ferrero said in a statement that the products involved in the recall are mainly Kinder Surprise eggs, not Kinder Joy eggs sold domestically.
On April 8, local time, Ferrero Group issued a statement on its official website saying that it had expanded its recall of Kenda products from the Arlon plant in Belgium and decided to suspend the production activities of the plant. Kinder Surprise T6 "Pulcini", Kinder Surprise Maxi 100g "Smurfs" and "Miraculous" produced in Arlon, Belgium, and Kinder Schoko-Bons.
Ferrero Group recalled products on April 8. Source: Ferrero Group official website
In the aforementioned statement, Ferrero acknowledged that internal inefficiencies led to delays in recalls and information sharing, affecting the speed and effectiveness of the investigation. Once certified by the authorities, the shut-down plant will reopen. Ferrero also said in a statement that he "deeply regrets what happened and sincerely apologizes to all consumers and business partners."
On April 8, local time, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Food Safety Authority (ESFA) released the progress of the investigation into the multinational Salmonella outbreak.
It is reported that the epidemic is related to a factory in Arlon, Belgium. Belgian authorities suspended all their activities, will recall all products manufactured at the plant and require retailers to remove the products.
As of 8 April, 142 cases, mainly children under 10 years of age, have been reported. The first case was detected in the UK on 7 January 2022. Cases have also been detected elsewhere in Europe since 17 February. EcDC and ESFA say specific chocolate products have been identified as a possible route of infection.
At present, many countries and regions such as Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom have initiated recalls of products suspected of salmonella contamination.
Earlier, on April 5, Ferrero Group posted a statement on its official website saying that the company had recently taken preventive and voluntary recall measures in the United Kingdom and other European countries, recalling some Of the Kinta Schoko-Bons products produced at the Arlon plant in Belgium.
Ferrero Group recalled products on April 5. Source: Ferrero Group official website
According to the official website of Ferrero Group, Ferrero Group was founded in the 1940s, from a pastry shop to a factory by the founder's family. It is reported that Ferrero made his fortune with hazelnut jam, succeeded in Italy with hazelnut chocolate, etc., and began to expand globally. The Kinda series of products suspected of being infected with Salmonella is a product developed by the Ferrero Group in 1968.