Abu Dhabi: The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE) has issued a decision to withdraw and recall a specific batch of Kinder Surprise Uovo Maxi chocolate eggs, weighing 100 grams each, from market shelves in the UAE.
“The decision is based on reports and technical information regarding the registration of salmonella infections in several European countries that were linked to the consumption of Kinder chocolate products,” the MoCCAE said in a social media alert on Friday.
Withdrawn lot
The withdrawn lot has an expiry date of October 1, and was produced in Belgium.
“In order to ensure the safety of consumers, the MoCCAE has issued a decision to withdraw these products from the market. We will also issue a list of other lots, along with their expiry dates, and we will then coordinate with other entities, including food safety authorities, to withdraw them from the markets,” it added.
Two batches
The Ministry listed the two batches related to the incident and their expiry date in a circular issued to local food control authorities to ensure prompt removal of the affected products from retail outlets and destroying or returning them to the country of origin as needed.
The decision aligns with MOCCAE’s strategy to ensure the safety of inbound and traded food products in the UAE as per international best practices to boost consumer confidence.
Products in UAE
The National Rapid Alert System for Food revealed that out of the wide range of Kinder products manufactured in eight factories and sold in the UAE, only two batches of Kinder Surprise Uovo Maxi Chocolate 100 gm sourced from one factory in Belgium are affected.
However, the Ministry will enforce tighter control measures on other products from Ferrero, the manufacturer of Kinder, that are traded in the UAE. The System is run by MOCCAE in coordination with local food safety entities, including Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) and municipal authorities in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah.
Belgian food control authorities and Ferrero are currently investigating the incident to update the list of affected products and countries.
In the UAE, the concerned entities keep food safety in check using effective control systems to identify damaged, adulterated, and counterfeit foods that pose a risk to public health.
The Ministry advises members of the community to seek information from reliable sources and contact local food control authorities in case they bought the product in question.
Ferrero exports its products to over 160 countries, and this incident is the first of its kind for the company.
