An outbreak of salmonella cases has been linked to certain Kinder products made by Ferrero, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said.
As of 29 April, there are 76 cases linked to this outbreak in the UK. The majority of the cases are children under 5 years of age.
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‘It’s crucial these products are not eaten and are discarded. Salmonella infection can be severe and many children affected in this outbreak have been very unwell and hospitalised, so anyone giving chocolate products to friends or family should take extra care to ensure their Easter gifts are not amongst those products recalled,’ said Dame Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of UKHSA.
‘Thank you to parents and guardians who worked with us and other public health authorities in the UK to tell us what their children had eaten prior to becoming unwell – this allowed us to rapidly pinpoint a potential source of infection and helped food chain investigations both in this country and in Europe. We understand this has been a worrying time for these families, and their responses have helped to prevent more children and vulnerable adults being affected.’
The UKHSA is working with the Food Standards Agency, Food Standards Scotland, Public Health Scotland, Public Health Wales, Public Health Agency Northern Ireland, as well as international public health and food safety authorities, to ensure that the risk to public health is minimised as far as possible.
‘We understand this has been a worrying time for these families, and their responses have helped to prevent more children being affected,’ said Dr Lesley Larkin, Surveillance Lead, Gastrointestinal Pathogens and Food Safety (One Health) at UKHSA.
‘Symptoms of salmonellosis typically resolve themselves within a few days. However, symptoms can be more severe, especially in young children.’