In the event of a return to the producer, they can request reimbursement of postage, confirmed on Tuesday the Secretary of State in charge of Consumer Protection, Eva De Bleeker (Open Vld). The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (Afsca) on Monday recalled several Ferrero brand chocolate products due to the presence of salmonella bacteria. The products in question were manufactured in the Ferrero factory in Arlon.
On Monday, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) had reported 105 salmonella infections linked to these products, in the European Union and the United Kingdom. In Belgium, the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (Afsca) spoke on Wednesday of around twenty possible cases.
According to the Federal State Secretary for Consumer Protection, those who contacted the producer initially had the impression that in the event of a return to Ferrero, the costs should be borne by them.
During an interview with Ferrero, the Secretary of State reminded him of his legal obligations, in particular the right of the consumer to return the product in question free of charge or to turn to the point of sale.
According to De Bleeker, Ferrero has indicated that it will adapt its communication accordingly, in accordance with the legal provisions.
In concrete terms, consumers with a product from the targeted batches can turn to their point of sale to request a replacement or a refund. They can also email Ferrero. The chocolate product manufacturer will send a barcode that can be used to send the product by post. The barcode signifies that the recipient, Ferrero, will bear the shipping costs.