Salmonella has once again been detected at Ferrero’s Arlon plant in Belgium, a site that experienced an outbreak and product recall last year in the food and beverage industry.
In Belgium, the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) has been informed by Ferrero that swab testing at the factory has identified the presence of salmonella in the skirting boards. As a result, the FASFC has launched an “in-depth investigation” into the matter. However, Ferrero and the FASFC both confirm that no potentially contaminated end product has reached consumers based on the available information.
Last year, an outbreak linked to the Arlon plant resulted in over 400 confirmed cases of salmonella worldwide, associated with Kinder chocolate products from the privately-owned Italian company. This incident led to a significant product recall. It took around nine months for the site to regain full operational approval and resume manufacturing.
In response to the current situation, Ferrero has confirmed that no final products have tested positive for salmonella, and none have left their facilities. The company immediately halted production on the affected lines and is conducting a root cause analysis after identifying salmonella in the environment through internal controls. The FASFC unit, AFSCA, has been promptly informed.
In a similar episode last year, Ferrero had to suspend operations at the Arlon plant when it was identified as the source of monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium. The company faced criticism for delays in reporting the outbreak and subsequently implemented a worldwide recall of Kinder products upon discovering the initial illnesses in the UK.
The presence of Salmonella Typhimurium in the plant was initially detected on December 15, 2021, and the point of origin was traced to a filter at the outlet of two raw material tanks. Materials and finished products were immediately blocked and not released.
The FASFC is treating the latest salmonella case at the Arlon plant with great seriousness and has been closely monitoring it for several days. If new information emerges during the investigation that necessitates additional measures to ensure consumer protection, the agency will take immediate action.