The EU health authority and the EU food safety authority EFSA on Wednesday summarized the salmonella outbreak at a factory of the confectionery group Ferrero in Belgium: So far, 324 cases have been identified in the EU and Great Britain. Most infections occurred in children under the age of ten. About 40 percent of those affected had to be hospitalized.
So far, 324 cases – 266 confirmed and 58 possible – have been identified in the EU and UK respectively. There are also eight cases that cannot be explained by the consumption of chocolate products from the same processing plant in Belgium.
Also other sources of infection
According to the authorities, this indicates that there may also be other sources of contamination, albeit secondary infections that cannot be ruled out. In addition to Austria, cases also occurred in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Great Britain. In addition, cases have been identified in Canada, Switzerland and the United States.
Most infections – at 86.3 percent – occurred in children under the age of 10, possibly because chocolate products are especially popular with children. 41.3 percent of those affected had to be hospitalized. No deaths were reported.
The closure of the Belgian processing plant on April 8 and the global recall and recall of all its products have reduced the risk of exposure, but new cases could arise due to the products’ long shelf life and possible home storage, authorities warned.
Source: Krone
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