Ferrero ordered to temporarily suspend operations at Belgian plant over salmonella link

Belgium’s food safety agency AFSCA-FAVV has ordered Ferrero to suspend production at its plant in Arlon, Belgium due to a link that has been confirmed between more than a hundred cases of salmonella and Kinder chocolate production.

According to AFSCA-FAVV, the decision to temporarily close the plant was taken after finding the information from Ferrero to be incomplete.

Ferrero, the Italian chocolate giant, canceled a number of its Kinder products last week owing to salmonella concerns.

The tainted chocolate was made at Ferrero's Arlon plant, where salmonella was discovered in a filter in December.

According to the Food Standards Agency in the United Kingdom, at least 63 instances of salmonella have been connected to Kinder products, with the majority of the cases occurring in children under the age of five.

Other countries affected by recalls included the US and several European states.

Ferrero acknowledged internal inefficiencies that caused delays in retrieving and sharing information promptly.

Ferrero revealed that the plant would only reopen once certified by the authorities.