Ferrero voluntarily recalls select batches of Kinder® Chocolate products due to Salmonella

Ferrero voluntarily recalls select batches of Kinder® Chocolate products due to Salmonella

Ferrero is voluntarily recalling select batches of Kinder® Chocolate products from its Belgium plant due to possible Salmonella contamination, according to a Department of Defense All Food and Drug Activity message sent April 7.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, an outbreak caused by monophasic Salmonella typhimurium is rapidly evolving in several European countries.

As of April 5, 134 cases have been reported, mainly among children under 10 years old. The first case was identified Jan. 7 in the United Kingdom. Since Feb. 17, more cases have also been identified elsewhere in Europe. Product recalls have been launched in several countries to date, including Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Greece, Spain, United Kingdom, Hungry, Singapore, Australia, Canada and the United States to prevent the consumption of products potentially contaminated with Salmonella. To date eight countries have reported more than 100 Salmonella infections linked to Ferrero chocolate products.

The Defense Commissary Agency has publicized this recall to all its stores, said Richard Stith, Chief, Public Health Division, DeCA headquarters at Fort Lee, Virginia. Whenever a commissary has recalled or withdrawn products in its inventory, they are immediately removed from store shelves.

Salmonella can be potentially life-threatening, especially to infants, older people, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. It can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. Salmonella’s most common symptoms are diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever. Salmonella’s symptoms usually develop between eight to 72 hours after consumption of the contaminated food and last about four to seven days.

The following products are affected by this recall:

• Kinder Schoko-Bons 125 grams, 200 grams, 300 grams, 200 grams + 25 grams gratis, 300 grams + 50 grams gratis, 350 grams, 500 grams: European Article Number Visual Basic (EAN VB): 5413548280189, 5413548283128, 4008400621722, 4008400280127, 4008400621920, 8000500269633, 5413548015552; best beforehand date: May 28 – Aug. 28
• Kinder Schoko-Bons White 200 grams: EAN VB: 8000500289877; best beforehand date: May 31 – Sep. 29
• Kinder Mini Eggs Haselnuss100 grams: EAN VB: 8000500196809; best beforehand date: Aug. 21
• Kinder Mini Eggs Cacao 100 grams: EAN VB: 8000500361207; best beforehand date: Aug. 21
• Kinder Mini Eggs Kinder Schokolade100 grams: EAN VB: 8000500234303; best beforehand date: Aug. 21
• Kinder Mix Bunte Mischung 132 grams: EAN VB: 400840031322; best beforehand date: Aug. 21
• Kinder Mix Tüte 193 grams: EAN VB: 8000500371466; best beforehand date: Aug. 21
• Kinder Happy Moments 162 grams: EAN VB: 800050028439; best beforehand date: May 28 – Aug. 28
• Kinder Happy Moments Mini Mix – Grüße Edition162 grams: EAN VB: 8000500284391; best beforehand date: May 28 – Aug. 28
• Kinder Mini Eggs Mix 250 grams: EAN VB: 8000500295168; best beforehand date: Aug. 21
• Kinder Maxi Mix Plüsch 133 grams: EAN VB: 4008400271323; best beforehand date: Aug. 21
• Kinder Überraschung (Kinder Surprise) 3-pack (3x 20 grams) classic egg: EAN VB: 4008400240329; best beforehand date: April 10 – June 21
• Kinder Überraschung (Kinder Surprise) 3-pack (3x 20 grams) pink egg: EAN VB: 4008400480329; best beforehand date: April 10 – June 21
• Kinder Überraschung (Kinder Surprise) Maxi Classic egg 100 grams: EAN VB: 4008400231327; best beforehand date: Aug. 21
• Kinder Überraschung (Kinder Surprise) Maxi pink egg 100 grams: EAN VB: 4008400230825; best beforehand date: Aug. 21
• Kinder Mix Körbchen (small basket) 86 grams: EAN VB: 8000500350911; best beforehand date: Aug. 21
• Kinder Überraschung (Kinder Surprise) Maxi Ei Schlümpfe (smurfs) 100 grams: EAN VB: 8000500269008; best beforehand date: Aug. 19 - Sep. 18
• Kinder Überraschung (Kinder Surprise) 4-Pack (4x20 grams): EAN VB: 4008400240527; best beforehand date: Aug. 21
• Kinder Schoko-Bons 200 grams: UPC: 0 62020 02763 4; best before dates: Sept. 3, to Oct. 17
• Kinder Happy Moments – Confections Assortment 191 grams: UPC: 0 62020 01575 4; best before dates: July 23
• Kinder Mini Eggs 110 grams: UPC: 0 62020 02582 1; best before dates: July 14 to Aug. 18
• Kinder Mini Eggs 182 grams: UPC: 0 62020 02576 0; best before dates: July 12 to Sept. 3
• Kinder Mix – Egg Hunt Kit 186 grams: UPC: 0 62020 01627 0; best before dates: July 1 to July 8
• Kinder Mix – Egg Hunt Kit 186 grams: UPC: 0 62020 01629 4; best before dates: July 1 to July 8
• Kinder Mix – 7 Easter treats 116 grams: UPC: 0 62020 01616 4; best before dates: June 19 to Aug. 23
• Kinder Surprise, Miraculous 100 grams: UPC: 0 62020 02603 3; best before dates: August 19 to Oct. 28
• Kinder Surprise, Natoons 100 grams: UPC: 0 62020 02572 2; best before dates: August 29 to Oct. 28
• Kinder Surprise 100 grams: UPC: 0 62020 02625 5; best before dates: Nov. 29
• Kinder Happy Moments Milk Chocolate and Crispy Wafers Assortment 14.1 ounces (400g): UPC: 09800 52025 (right side panel); best by date: July 18
• Kinder Mix Chocolate Treats Basket 5.3 ounces (152g): UPC: 09800 60209 (bottom of package); best by date: July 30

Ferrero U.S.A., Inc. of Parsippany, New Jersey voluntarily recalled its Kinder® Happy Moments Chocolate Assortment and Kinder® Mix Chocolate Treats basket. The products are being recalled because they were manufactured in a facility where Salmonella typhimurium was detected. While there are no reports of illness in the United States to date, Ferrero is voluntarily recalling the products out of an abundance of caution due to reported cases of Salmonella in consumers that consumed products in Europe that were manufactured at the same facility.

Customers should return these products to the commissary of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions should contact the Ferrero MSC GmbH & Co. KG Consumer Service located at D-60624 Frankfurt, Germany by phone at +49 (0)69 / 665 666-0 Monday - Friday 8:30 am – 5:30 pm or by email at consumerservice@ferrero.com. Consumers who have purchased the affected product should not eat the product and may contact the Ferrero customer service line Monday - Friday 9am-6pm EST at 1-800-688-3552 or via https://www.ferreronorthamerica.com/contact-US-residents for product refund. Consumer Inquiries: 1-800-688-3552. Media and Other Inquiries: Cheryll Forsatz, (732) 584-4146.