The largest chocolate factory in the world is at a standstill: chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut is shutting down chocolate production in its Belgian factory in Wieze. Salmonella was detected in a batch produced. The sale of finished products has also been suspended.
According to the information, lecithin was identified as the source of the contamination. Because this substance is used during chocolate production, all production lines have been shut down as a precaution and all products manufactured since the time of the tests have been blocked, the Swiss company says.
In addition, the investigation into the causes and the risk assessment would continue. As a precaution, customers have been asked to block all delivered products. The systems must also be cleaned and disinfected before resuming production.
Salmonella at Ferrero
It wasn’t until April that confectionery group Ferrero had to shut down production at its facility in Arlon, Belgium, due to salmonella, followed by a sweeping recall of children’s products. Authorities in several European countries have linked numerous cases of salmonellosis to the chocolate products, with at least 14 confirmed cases in Austria. According to the Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), ten of those affected were children – five of whom had to be treated in hospital. Production in Arlon was only allowed to resume after about two months, under certain conditions.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
