So, what’s up in Europe – E. coli in Pizza and Salmonella in Chocolate

Fraich’UP frozen pizza and E. coli: French prosecutors this week searched a Buitoni Fraich’UP frozen pizza factory in northern France, the suspected source of an E. coli outbreak that has left dozens of children sick, as well as the headquarters of its owner Nestle France. Buitoni is owned by the Swiss food conglomerate Nestle,

An investigation into involuntary manslaughter and deceitful practices was opened on 1 April after authorities learned of more than 70 infections, which may have caused the deaths of a one-year-old and an 18-year-old.

The inspections “revealed a deterioration of food hygiene controls”, the presence of “rodents” and insufficient measures to prevent pests from contaminating a food production site.

Kinder chocolate and Salmonella: European health agencies have called for further investigation into the Kinder chocolate factory in Arlon linked to an outbreak of Salmonella across Europe.

Kinder, owned by the Italian company Ferrero, detected Salmonella Typhimurium in a buttermilk tank at the Arlon site during the manufacturer’s own checks in December 2021, according to the ECDC. The Belgian foods safety agency FASFC said in a statement at the time: “After investigations (…) and following the findings of the last few hours that the information provided by Ferrero is incomplete, the Agency is today withdrawing the authorization of the Ferrero production plant in Arlon”.

As of April 8, there have been at least 150 cases of confirmed or suspected salmonella linked to the Kinder products, in Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the UK.