The Belgian food safety agency (FASFC) announced on Friday that it had ordered the production of the Kinder chocolate factory, the source of salmonella contamination, to be stopped, deploring “the incomplete information” provided by the Italian giant of Ferrero confectionery.
In the process, Ferrero acknowledged “internal failures”, in a press release. The group “deeply regrets this matter” and presents its “sincere apologies to all (the) consumers and commercial partners”.
“For several weeks, more than a hundred cases of salmonellosis have been identified in Europe”, indicated the FASFC, stressing that a “link” established at the end of March between these poisonings and the Ferrero factory in Arlon ( Belgium) “has since been confirmed”.
“After investigations (…) and following the findings of recent hours that the information provided by Ferrero is incomplete, the Agency is today withdrawing authorization from the Ferrero production plant in Arlon”, announces the AFSCA, which also orders the recall of all products in the Kinder range from the site.
“This comprehensive product recall concerns all products of the type + Kinder Surprise +, + Kinder Surprise Maxi +, + Kinder Mini Eggs +, + Schoko-bons +, regardless of batches or expiry dates,” the agency said in a statement. , asking “the distribution companies to remove all these products from the shelves”.
The health authority stresses that it “will closely follow the steps taken by Ferrero and will only authorize the reopening of the site after having been able to conclude that the establishment meets all the rules and food safety requirements”.
The investigation at Ferrero is continuing, she said, calling on consumers not to consume any of the products in question.
The decision to withdraw the authorization for the Arlon plant was taken “in order to clarify the situation”, commented the Belgian Minister of Agriculture David Clarinval, quoted in the press release. “Such a decision is never taken lightly, but the current circumstances require it,” he added, citing the imperative of food security.