Kinder Surprise Easter eggs recalled over salmonella fears

Kinder Surprise chocolate Easter eggs are being recalled in Australia over fears of salmonella contamination.

Ferrero Australia Pty Ltd has ordered Kinder Easter Basket 120 grams (6 x 20g), Kinder Mini Eggs Hazelnut 100 grams, Kinder Surprise Maxi 100 grams and Kinder Surprise Maxi – Natoons 100 grams be recalled.

The products have been sold at Coles, Woolworths, Target, Kmart, Big W, IGA and petrol stations, instore and online.

“Consumers should not eat these products and can return them to the place of purchase for a full refund,” Food Standards Australia and New Zealand said.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is investigating a salmonella outbreak linked to chocolate products that has been evolving in seven European countries and Britain.

Since Tuesday, 134 cases have been reported, mainly among children younger than 10. The first case was identified in Britain on January 7.

In a media release on Wednesday, the agency said the outbreak caused an “unusually high proportion of children” being hospitalised, with some experiencing severe symptoms such as bloody diarrhoea.

“Based on interviews with patients and initial analytical epidemiological studies, specific chocolate products have been identified as the likely route of infection,” the agency said.

“Product recalls have been launched in several countries to date, including Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, and the UK, to prevent the consumption of products potentially contaminated with salmonella.”