Suspicion of Salmonella – Bad Easter Surprise: Supermarkets Recall Baby Products

• Due to salmonella infection in European countries, Ferrero has withdrawn many chocolate products for children.
• The European Union’s health authority, ECDC, is verifying dozens of cases in at least nine countries.
• In Switzerland, nothing is currently known about suspected cases of salmonella.
• However, major Swiss distributors have reacted: Coop, Migros, Aldi and Lidl are recalling chocolate products for children – including surprise eggs and chocolate cakes.

It’s a nasty surprise at the worst possible time: about two weeks before Easter, a salmonella infection appears in Europe, which is said to be linked to chocolate products from the confectionery manufacturer Ferrero. On Tuesday, the Palestinian News Agency reported that 63 people in the UK, mostly young children, have contracted salmonella.

It was also said that there were injuries in Germany, France, Sweden and other European countries. Because salmonella was suspected, Germany, France, Belgium and Great Britain, among other countries, responded, recalling baby products. The German Federal Office for Consumer Protection warns against its consumption.

Ferrero participates this afternoon in company page With the summons in Germany voluntarily as a precaution. “Although none of the baby products we launched has been proven to have salmonella and we haven’t received any complaints from consumers, we take the matter very seriously,” she added. Ferrero could not be reached on Wednesday for a statement on the situation in Switzerland.

If the affected products are also distributed in Switzerland, FSVO will take immediate action.

In Switzerland, nothing is known about suspected cases of salmonella in connection with Ferrero products. At the request of the SRF, the Federal Office for Food Safety and Veterinary Medicine (BLV) reported that it was in contact with the responsible cantonal enforcement authority. “Clarifications with the company as to whether the affected products were sold in Switzerland are ongoing. If the affected products are also distributed in Switzerland, FSVO will take immediate action.”

Possible actions could be a product warning or recall of affected Ferrero baby products. In Switzerland, Coop is recalling baby chocolate products such as chocolate brownies and surprise eggs. It was merely a precaution on the advice of the brand manufacturer Ferrero, SRF’s main distributor confirmed. Migros, Aldi, and Lidl also confirm on request that baby products are being recalled.

“The outbreak was marked by an unusually high proportion of children being admitted to hospital, some with severe clinical symptoms such as bloody diarrhoea,” the agency said. In cooperation with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating 134 confirmed or probable cases of salmonella. All of the affected chocolate products are made at the same factory in Arlon, Belgium, according to Ferrero. Food authorities check there.