Today, Friday, 8th April 2022, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) issued an extended food alert concerning the recall of certain Kinder products, and advising consumers that these products should not be consumed. This latest alert from the FSAI involves the recall of certain Kinder products irrespective of best by date. These products have been associated with an extensive outbreak of salmonellosis, primarily affecting children.
The HSE, HPSC and FSAI have been working closely with UK authorities to investigate an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium. The Irish outbreak is part of a larger outbreak that involves the UK and a number of other European countries. The great majority of people who have become ill in this wider outbreak, have reported eating Kinder products (manufactured by Ferrero) in the days before they became unwell. Evidence gathered during the outbreak in Ireland and in other countries, has been used to direct investigations to identify products that may be associated with this outbreak.
Since the end of January, 15 cases of salmonellosis which form part of this outbreak have been identified in Ireland, primarily in children. The most recent Irish cases became unwell in mid-March.
As a result of the evidence provided by outbreak investigations, Ferrero has instituted an EU-wide withdrawal and recall of a range of products. In Ireland, the latest recall involves certain Kinder products produced since 1/6/21.
Dr Paul McKeown, Specialist in Public Health Medicine at the HSE-HPSC, said:
Although there has been a speedy recall of these products, we may see a number of further cases of illness associated with this outbreak. However, the likelihood of any individual child becoming sick as a result of eating this product is extremely low. Only a very small percentage of children who have eaten this product over the last few weeks has developed salmonella infection. The symptoms of salmonella infection in children (nausea and vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhoea) are mild in the majority of cases, and can be managed at home.”
He went on to say: If your child develops more worrying symptoms such as a lot of diarrhoea, diarrhoea with blood in it, a lot of vomiting, a high temperature or a nasty headache, you should seek medical advice from your GP. It is important to remember that the majority of children who develop vomiting and diarrhoea are unlikely to have salmonella infection, and are more likely to have a simple viral tummy upset, which can be treated simply with paracetamol and fluids by mouth.
The FSAI have online images of the affected products. If you have bought any of these products, do not eat them, and do not give them as Easter presents. Instead, please contact the Ferrero consumer careline on +44 (0)330 053 8943 or email [email protected].
The investigation of this outbreak is continuing.
Further information can be found on the FSAI website.
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