The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported that as of Wednesday 18 May 2022, there were 156 confirmed and 58 probable cases of Salmonella Typhimurium infection recorded in the European Union (EU), including two cases in Luxemborg, linked to chocolate products made at a factory in Arlon, Belgium.
A representative of Luxembourg's Ministry of Health has confirmed to Chronicle.lu that two paediatric cases of Salmonella infection linked to chocolate products were recorded in the Grand Duchy.
According to the ministry, a two-and-a-half year-old child was hospitalised for five days in March 2022 with severe gastroenteritis, which required antibiotic treatment.
Another four-and-ahalf year-old child had two episodes of moderate gastroenteritis in March and April 2022 and was hospitalised for 48 hours in April for surveillance.
Both children have progressed without problems.
The Ministry of Health also noted a few additional reports of children with gastroenteritis who had eaten "Kinder" chocolate products but no stool samples were taken at the time of the illness and the episode was over by the time the Ministry was aware of the situation. Following the product recalls in early April 2022, there have been no new cases.
National competent authorities began issuing public health warnings from 2 April 2022 and on 8 April 2022, the food safety authority in Belgium performed official checks at the Ferrero factory in Arlon and withdrew the company’s authorisation for production. In addition, the company initiated recalls of all batches of products produced at the Arlon factory, regardless of their lot number or expiration date.
