Kinder global recall: pull of chocolate eggs product from shelves escalates in Hong Kong, with another item in line also linked to UK salmonella cases
- Residents urged not to consume Belgium-made Surprise Milk Chocolate Egg with Toy (3 x 20g) with best-before date of October 24
- Latest warning is second in under three days for popular brand
A global recall of the popular Kinder chocolate egg product has escalated, with one more item in the line widely sold in Hong Kong pulled from shelves after possible links to salmonella contamination reports in Europe.
The Centre for Food Safety urged the public late on Friday night not to consume the Belgium-made Surprise Milk Chocolate Egg with Toy (3 x 20g) with a best-before date of October 24, imported by City'super.
This is the second product recall in under three days following the recall of Kinder Egg Hunt Kit (150g) batches with an expiry date of August 21, 2022, imported by the same retailer. The centre said it subsequently found another retailer, supermarket chain ParknShop, had imported the product.
The latest recall followed an alert of possible salmonella contamination by the Food Standards Agency of the United Kingdom, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and the Ministry for Primary Industries of New Zealand.
“Salmonella infection may cause fever and gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The effects on infants, young children, the elderly and persons with a weak immune system could be more severe and may even lead to death,” a spokesman for Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety warned.
The centre on Saturday said the products in question were produced by Ferrero’s factory in Arlon, Belgium. The facility accounted for 7 per cent of the total volume of Kinder products manufactured worldwide annually.
The centre said it was aware of a statement by the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain of Belgium concerning the suspension of operations of Ferrero’s factory in Arlon as their products were suspected to be contaminated with salmonella. It added that sales of the products were stopped or they were no longer available at shops in Hong Kong. The cente said its investigation was continuing and it had stepped up product testing.
At least 63 children in Britain and another 42 in the European Union have fallen ill after consuming chocolates, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
In a reply to the Post’s inquiries, Ferrero Asia Limited, which imports the Kinder product line into Hong Kong, said its other chocolates were not affected.
“Kinder Joy, Kinder Maxi, Kinder Chocolate, Kinder Bueno, Kinder Happy Hippo, are not manufactured at the Belgium plant and therefore … [have] no association to the reported salmonella cases,” the company said.
“In other countries, Ferrero is cooperating with food authorities on the reported cases of salmonella. We are taking this extremely seriously as consumer care is our top priority.”
