Kinder chocolates available in Bahrain market are ‘safe’

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Staff Reporter

Bahrain is not among the countries that have received warning alerts from the International Network of Food Safety Authorities (Infosan) regarding the presence of Kinder Surprise chocolate products suspected of being contaminated with Salmonella bacteria.

Meaning, the Kinder chocolates being sold in the local Bahraini market did not come from Belgium where the reported Salmonella-contaminated products were produced. A Kinder chocolate factory in Belgium has been ordered to close after it was linked to dozens of Salmonella cases.

Belgium’s food safety authority has also ordered the recall of all Kinder products made at the factory in Arlon, which is owned by Ferrero. Some European countries, such as the UK, Germany, France and Belgium – and including the UAE – have already recalled various Kinder products following suspected Salmonella cases.

The affected products are Kinder Mini Eggs (75g), Kinder Egg Hunt Kit (150g) and Kinder Surprise Maxi (100g). All of them are made in Belgium. The Ministry of Health’s Public Health Department previously acknowledged that the Kinder products currently in the Bahraini market are from another country of origin, and not from Belgium.

Nonetheless, the Kinder chocolates are being monitored in the Kingdom by the Public Health’s Department Food Control Department to make sure that they are complying with recognised health rules and criteria.

Probable contamination

The Health Ministry confirms that the Public Health Department is following up on all international alerts and technical information on the probable contamination of the Belgium-made Kinder Surprise Maxi product with Salmonella bacteria. If consumed, salmonella or microbial contamination can cause severe illness including nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, fever, chills, headaches and even blood in the stool.

In the UAE, the health authorities keep food safety in check using effective control systems to identify damaged, adulterated, and counterfeit foods that pose a risk to public health. The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) had issued a decision to withdraw Kinder Surprise Maxi chocolate eggs lot from market shelves after salmonella infection reports.

Withdrawn products have an expiry date of October 1 and were produced in Belgium. Belgian food control authorities are currently investigating the incident to update the list of affected products and countries.

Internal failures

Ferrero has apologised and acknowledged “internal failures”. Belgium’s food safety authority, the AFSCA, said the factory was ordered to shut after Ferrero was unable to provide complete information for its investigation. The AFSCA said the investigation was ongoing and the factory would only be allowed to reopen if Ferrero could provide the necessary guarantees that it complied with food safety regulations. The AFSCA has also asked companies to remove the products from their shelves and advised people not to eat them.