Ferrero has recalled some of its Kinder chocolates from stores in the US because of possible salmonella contamination.
The Kinder Happy Moments chocolate range and the Kinder Mix Chocolate Treats basket are being voluntarily recalled, Ferrero North America said.
It comes after the company recalled its Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs from UK stores earlier this week.
The company said it made the decision because they were made in a factory where salmonella had been detected.
At the time, Ferrero said the affected chocolate was made in Belgium and the recall could be extended to other countries.
It stressed that no other children’s or Ferrero products sold in the US were affected by this recall.
“Ferrero is cooperating with the US Food and Drug Administration on reported Salmonella cases in Europe,” the company said in its recent statement.
Some Kinder chocolates have also been recalled in parts of Asia, including Hong Kong and Singapore.
Earlier this week, Kinder Surprise chocolate egg products were recalled over a link to salmonella cases in the UK.
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The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) had previously warned against eating 20g eggs or three-pack eggs with a sell-by date between July 11 and October 7, 2022.
Within a few days, Kinder Easter Egg Hunt Kits (150g), Kinder Mini Eggs (75g), Kinder Schokobons (200g) and the 100g Kinder Surprise were also recalled.
All affected sweets were made in the same factory in Belgium.
Ferrero, which makes Kinder chocolates, said it made the “precautionary decision” to voluntarily extend the recall to those products in the UK and Ireland with best-by dates between April 20, 2022 and August 21, 2022.
The chocolate maker said none of its children’s products released for sale had tested positive for salmonella but was taking the matter “extremely seriously”.
The company added that it is aware of the upcoming Easter holiday, which usually brings a surge in Kinder Surprise egg sales.
It came after more than 60 people in the UK, mostly young children, became infected with salmonella in an outbreak linked to the Kinder Surprise treats.
On Monday, the FSA said no deaths had been reported in the UK but most cases were in children aged five and under.
Research to date has been carried out by the UK Health Security Agency, Public Health Scotland, Public Health Wales and the Public Health Agency Northern Ireland.
The European health agency said Wednesday it was also investigating dozens of suspected cases of salmonella linked to chocolate consumption in at least nine countries, including the UK, Germany, France and Belgium.
It did not mention Ferrero or any other pastry chef in a statement, but warned that the reported cases were mainly in children under the age of 10.
The Salmonella bacteria can cause serious and serious infections, especially in children or the elderly and other people with weakened immune systems.
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