Monday. 27.03.2023
FOOD SAFETY

EU investigates salmonella outbreak possibly linked to chocolates

An unusually high proportion of children required hospitalization, including some with severe symptoms such as bloody diarrhoea
04 April 2022, United Kingdom, London: A toy lies next to a British variant of a Kinder Surprise egg. Due to more than 60 cases of salmonella illnesses in the UK, Ferrero has recalled some batches of children's surprise eggs just under two weeks before Easter. Photo: Victoria Jones/PA Wire/dpa.
A toy lies next to a British variant of a Kinder Surprise egg. Photo: Victoria Jones/dpa.

The cases of salmonella in Europe suspected of being linked to some batches of various children's chocolate products by Italian confectionery group Ferrero are now being investigated by EU authorities.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have launched investigations into the outbreak and plan to publish an assessment next week.

So far, 105 confirmed cases and 29 suspected cases of salmonella, most of them children under the age of 10, have been recorded, according to the authorities.

Almost half of the salmonella infections were recorded in Britain, with the first case already being detected on January 7.

Germany, Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden are also affected.

Severe symptoms

According to the EU authorities, the outbreak is characterized by an unusually high proportion of children requiring hospitalization, including some with severe symptoms such as bloody diarrhoea.

Certain chocolate products had been identified as a likely cause for the infections, it said.

Ferrero has since recalled several batches of its children's chocolate products - including Kinder Surprise Eggs - for example in Germany.

According to the company, all affected products were manufactured in Belgium.

EU investigates salmonella outbreak possibly linked to chocolates
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