Two international food safety crises with serious health risks for children bring Ferrero eggs-contaminated with salmonella-and Buitoni (Nestlé) pizzas with E.coli to the fore.
The extension of risk food recalls to several months of production is unfortunately indicative of a lack of attention to microbiological contamination risks.
Buitoni pizzas, two children dead
The first alert was confirmed in France on March 30, when health authorities confirmed E.coli contamination of frozen Fraîch’Up pizzas from Buitoni, a historic Italian brand acquired by Nestlé.
‘Since the beginning of the year, 41 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) caused by these coli bacteria have been identified in children in 12 French regions, particularly Hauts-de-France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Pays de la Loire. Two children have died and several others are hospitalized in serious condition. Thirty more cases are under investigation‘, reports the French consumer monthly 60 Millions de Consommateurs.
Buitoni pulled all Fraîch’Up pizzas from the shelves and warned consumers not to consume those marketed starting June 2021 (!).
Ferrero, chocolate and salmonella
The second scandal engulfs Ferrero over one of its most visible products, Kinder eggs. The alert was first issued in the UK on 2.4.22. And it has also been triggered in France, where these products are suspected of causing 21 cases of salmonellosis.
Once again, victims of the lack of sanitation control are children. In France, the average age of the sick was 4 years, 8 of them were hospitalized (with gastrointestinal complaints and fever) and all of them went home, Public Health France informs.
Recall for 5 Kinder Ferrero products
Ferrero has recalled five Kinder products: Kinder Surprise, Kinder Schoko-Bons(also in Italy), Kinder Mini Eggs, Kinder Happy Moments, and Kinder Mix. The affected markets are France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands.
With the Easter weekend just days away, a time of highest consumption of these products, Ferrero aims to recall all salmonella-prone products and replace it with new production. But consumer confidence is wavering.
Although the source of the contamination has not yet been identified, how do you know if these new chocolate eggs will not also be recalled?‘, is the doubt of 60 Millions de Consommateurs.
Big Food, Big Risk
The two incidents call to mind other food scandals generated by Big Food‘s superficial controls.
One is reminded of the contamination with the carcinogenic pesticide ethylene oxide that polluted thousands of products ingested by unsuspecting and defenseless consumers, with the exception of France, devoted to relentless testing and recalls.
And the 12 million packages of baby food with salmonella, made in 11 months of production by French giant Lactalis, recalled in 83 countries.
Then as now, it is difficult to understand how it is possible to market food for children without adequate controls to ensure food safety.
Marta Strinati
Notes
(1) Laura Hendrikx. Suspicion de salmonelles dans des œufs en chocolat Kinder. 60 Millions del Consommateurs 5.4.22 https://www.60millions-mag.com/2022/04/05/suspicion-de-salmonelles-dans-des-oeufs-en-chocolat-kinder-19899
Professional journalist since January 1995, he has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic surveys on food, she has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
