Belgium investigates Ferrero over salmonella in chocolate

The Belgian public prosecutor is investigating an outbreak of salmonella at the Ferrero confectionery factory against the company.

On Monday, the Belga news agency reported, citing the public prosecutor of the Belgian region of Luxembourg, that investigations are linked to a factory in Arlon that Ferrero was forced to close by order of the authorities last week.

Hundreds of cases of salmonella across Europe have previously been linked to sweets produced there. The regulator temporarily revoked the Ferrero production license for the Arlon plant on Friday until all food safety rules and requirements were met. All “kids” chocolate products made in Arlon have also been recalled.

Ferrero previously announced that salmonella had been detected in the factory since December 15, 2021. It was found in a sieve at the exit of two raw material tanks. Then the products made from it were discontinued. Filter has been replaced and controls increased on unfinished and finished products.

Also in Austria, select batches of “baby” products have been pulled or removed from supermarket shelves as a precaution. A list of affected products can be found on the AGES website.