Europe 1 with AFP 2:45 p.m., July 01, 2022

The Swiss group Barry Callebaut, world number one in cocoa and chocolate preparations, said Thursday that it had stopped production of chocolate at its factory in Wieze in Belgium, presented as the largest in the world, after the discovery of salmonella.

The presence of the bacterium was discovered on Monday "in a production batch manufactured in Wieze".

The Swiss group Barry Callebaut, world leader in cocoa and chocolate preparations, said Thursday that it had stopped production of chocolate at its factory in Wieze (Belgium), presented as the largest in the world, after the discovery of salmonella.

The presence of the bacterium was discovered on Monday "in a production batch manufactured in Wieze".

"Our quality experts have identified lecithin as the source of the contamination," the wholesaler said in a statement.

Barry Callebaut has "closed all its chocolate production lines in Wieze"

A spokesperson told AFP that "most of the contaminated products are still in the Wieze factory" and that the group was in the process of contacting all of its customers (large industrialists, craftsmen) to ensure that there is "no contamination at the consumer level".

At the end of the afternoon on Thursday, all "its customers except one" have already confirmed that there is "no danger" for their consumers, said the group's spokesperson, who is awaiting a response from one last customer.

As soon as the bacterium was discovered, Barry Callebaut "closed all its chocolate production lines in Wieze, as a precautionary measure" and informed the Belgian health authorities, the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (AFSCA).

An open internal investigation

All chocolate products made at this factory after June 25 have been blocked and "all chocolate production lines will be cleaned and disinfected before production restarts," the statement insisted.

The factory is located about thirty kilometers north-west of Brussels.

The FASFC went to the site and indicated that it had opened an investigation to "collect all the information in order to trace the contamination".

Kinder already in turmoil

This announcement comes a few weeks after a case of chocolates contaminated with salmonella in the Ferrero factory in Arlon, in the south of Belgium, involving the manufacturer of Kinder chocolates.

Belgian health authorities announced on June 17 that they had given the green light to restart the Italian giant's factory for a three-month test period.

"Food safety is of the utmost importance for Barry Callebaut and this contamination is quite exceptional. We have a well-defined food safety charter and procedures", assures the Swiss group.

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More than 13,000 employees worldwide

Due to its wholesale business, its products first go to a manufacturer and go through several stages before reaching the end consumer.

Barry Callebaut supplies cocoa and chocolate preparations to many companies in the food chain, ranging from industry giants such as Hershey, Mondelez, Nestlé or Unilever to pastry professionals.

The group, which employs more than 13,000 people, has more than 60 production sites worldwide.

Its annual sales amounted to 2.2 million tonnes during its staggered 2020/2021 financial year (ended August 31) for a turnover of 7.2 billion francs in turnover and a net profit of 384 5 million francs.

On the stock market, Barry Callebaut shares ended the session down 2.02% to 2,130 Swiss francs.