The ECDC and the EFSA are investigating the Salmonella epidemic related to Kinder chocolate — no cases in Finland
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) are investigating the epidemic caused by the monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium bacteria. Cases have been reported in many European countries. The majority of the patients are under the age of 10, and many of them have eaten Kinder chocolate products before becoming ill.
No cases have been reported in Finland, but the ongoing strike of nurses may make it difficult to investigate possible infections and the epidemic.
No Salmonella bacteria have been found in Kinder products. However, as a precaution, the importer of the products has recalled several batches of Kinder chocolate products, also in Finland. Products reported for recall should not be eaten.
If you have eaten recalled Kinder products and suffer from diarrhoea and fever, contact your municipality's health care. At the moment, stomach disease caused by norovirus is also spreading in Finland, so not all abdominal symptoms are caused by Salmonella.
Salmonella usually spreads through food contaminated with human or animal faeces carrying the bacteria. The most common symptoms of Salmonella infection are diarrhoea and fever.
The number of Salmonella cases has clearly decreased in Finland over the past 10 years. In 2021, a total of 474 cases of Salmonella were reported to THL’s Infectious Diseases Register.
Additional information
Kinder-tuotteiden takaisinveto (Finnish Food Authority, 7 April 2022)
EFSA and ECDC investigate multi-country Salmonella outbreak linked to chocolate products (ECDC)
Communicable Disease Control Physician
THL
tartuntatautilaakari(a)thl.fi
tel. +358 29 524 8557
Paula Hietanen
Chief Inspector
Finnish Food Authority
tel. +358 505 9637
[email protected]
Anni Vainio (laboratory)
Senior Researcher
THL
tel. +358 29 524 8171
[email protected]
