The latter recalled a series of Kinder products manufactured in its factory in Arlon in Belgium, which were marketed in France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands, specified Tuesday to the AFP the Italian group Ferrero.

In the United Kingdom, health authorities had already reported on Saturday a recall on certain batches of Kinder Surprise due to a “potential link with an epidemic of salmonellosis”.

A spokeswoman for the British health authorities told AFP on Tuesday that 63 cases of salmonella contamination were listed on their territory.

On the French side, 21 patients were reported by the National Salmonella Reference Center of the Institut Pasteur, 15 of whom indicated that they had consumed the Kinder products concerned, according to Santé Publique France, which specifies that eight people were hospitalized but returned by next at home.

The median age of cases is 4 years.

"The investigations carried out by Santé Publique France revealed the consumption of certain Kinder brand products subject to this withdrawal-recall in the days preceding the onset of symptoms in the 15 patients who could be questioned at this time. “, detailed the health agency in its press release on Tuesday.

The French and British salmonellosis cases concerned share the same genetic strain, still according to Santé Publique France, and are linked to the same factory in Arlon, the main manufacturing site for Kinder products for the seven European countries concerned.

Reminder before Easter

In France, the recall concerns the equivalent of hundreds of tons of chocolates, said a spokeswoman for Ferrero.

The Easter products were delivered in March, but the offending batches will be pulled from shelves, she added.

"None of our Kinder products placed on the French market has tested positive for salmonella, we have not received any complaints from consumers," the company said on Monday.

Are concerned by the recall in France of Kinder Surprise 20g (by one, by three, by four and by six) and 100g with expiry dates between the end of June 2022 and the end of October 2022;

Kinder Schoko-Bons with expiry dates between the end of April and the end of August 2022;

Kinder Mini Eggs with expiry dates between the end of April and the end of August and finally Kinder Happy Moments, Kinder Mix: 193g, Basket 150g, Plush 133g, Bucket 198g, with expiry dates at the end of August 2022.

Food poisoning caused by salmonella results in gastrointestinal disorders often accompanied by fever within forty-eight hours of ingestion.

Santé Publique France recommends that people who have consumed the products concerned and who have these symptoms consult a doctor as soon as possible.

French consumers can also obtain a refund by contacting the number set up by Ferrero (0 800 65 36 53), or the address contact.fr@ferrero.com.

This recall comes in the wake of a comparable case.

Last Wednesday, French health authorities established a link between frozen pizzas from the Buitoni brand, from the Nestlé group, and several serious cases of contamination by the E.coli bacteria.

Dozens of French children fell ill, and two died, although the link has not been confirmed for these two deaths.

In an "open letter to the employers' chamber of agri-food industries concerning health scandals" unveiled on Tuesday, the federation specializing in agri-food Fnaf-CGT considers that it lacks human resources to carry out checks, and that agri-food manufacturers "n do not hesitate to bend the rules to produce more and more at less cost".

© 2022 AFP