France opens probe into Kinder candy Salmonella cases
June 9, 2022, 7:04 pm

France opens probe into Kinder candy Salmonella cases

Chocolate-maker Ferrero is recalling some batches of Kinder Surprise eggs in the UK due to a link with salmonella (File photo: Pixabay)

The Paris prosecutor's office said Thursday (June 9) that it had opened a preliminary inquiry into dozens of cases of Salmonella poisoning in popular Kinder sweets during the key Easter holiday season.

A range of chocolate products made at the company's factory in Arlon, southeast Belgium, were found to contain Salmonella bacteria, resulting in 150 cases in nine European countries.

As of June 2, the Sante Publique France health agency had counted 118 cases in the country, of which 22 had required hospital admission.

Following a complaint by the Foodwatch association, the Paris prosecutors said, French prosecutors opened on May 25 an investigation into suspected "deceit aggravated by a danger to human health" and reckless endangerment by Ferrero, the Italian confectionery giant that owns Kinder.

Salmonella contamination can cause symptoms similar to gastroenteritis including severe diarrhoea and vomiting that are particularly dangerous for children under 10.

Nicolas Neykov, the head of Ferrero France, told Le Parisien daily last month that the contamination came "from a filter located in a vat for dairy butter" at the factory in Arlon, saying it could have been caused by humans or raw materials.

Kinder Surprise eggs recalled in UK due to a link with salmonella

The factory was later closed for hygiene inspections and more than 3,000 tonnes of Kinder products were withdrawn from markets.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has reported 324 confirmed Salmonella cases across the EU and Britain as of May 18, as well as 58 suspected cases. No deaths from the contaminated products have been reported so far.

Belgian authorities opened an inquiry to determine who might be responsible for the outbreak at Arlon on April 11.

Source: anews

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”