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Two varieties of Kinder chocolates were voluntarily recalled in the U.S. over concerns that the products may be contaminated with salmonella, following an outbreak of infections linked to the chocolates in Europe, according to a company recall notice posted by the Food and Drug Administration.
The company, Ferrero USA Inc., said that two of its products were manufactured in a facility where Salmonella typhimurium was detected. The recalled Kinder products are:
- Kinder Happy Moments Milk Chocolate and Crispy Wafers Assortment packaged in a 14.1-ounce square box with a “best by” date of July 18, 2022, sold at BJ’s Wholesale Club stores and select Costco stores (in the Bay Area of California and in northern Nevada). Lot codes are 48RUP334, 48RUP335, 48RUP336 and 48RUP337 (located on the back panel); the UPC code is 09800 52025 (located on the right side panel).
- Kinder Mix Chocolate Treats Basket packaged in a 5.3-ounce cardboard basket with a “best by” date of July 30, 2022, sold at 14 Big Y supermarket locations in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The lot code is 03L 018AR - 306; the UPC code is 09800 60209 (both located on the bottom of the package).
No other Kinder products made for the U.S. market were included in the current recall, and there have been no reports of illness in the U.S.
However, in Europe there have been over 100 reports of infections linked to chocolate products made by Ferrero, including Kinder Mini eggs, mainly among children under 10 years old, that occurred as early as January, according to the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
Consumers in the U.S. who have the affected chocolates are advised not to eat them. To obtain a refund, call Ferrero’s toll-free customer service line Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, at 800-688-3552 or visit its website.
Symptoms of salmonella infection
Salmonellosis, the intestinal infection caused by the salmonella bacteria, typically leads to diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. In severe cases the infection can spread from the intestines to the urine, blood, bones, joints, spinal fluid or brain. Symptoms begin six hours to six days after infection and can last up to seven days. However, in some instances, symptoms can appear weeks after infection or remain for several weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A confirmed diagnosis is made when a lab test determines if the bacteria is present in a person’s stool, body tissue or fluids. Typically, most people can recover without an antibiotic, but treatment is recommended for anyone with severe illness. Infected adults over age 65 (or over 50 if an underlying condition such as heart disease is present), infants and those with a weakened immune system are also advised to take an antibiotic.
Aaron Kassraie writes about issues important to military veterans and their families for AARP. He also serves as a general assignment reporter. Kassraie previously covered U.S. foreign policy as a correspondent for the Kuwait News Agency’s Washington bureau and worked in news gathering for USA Today and Al Jazeera English.
