A preliminary investigation was opened after complaints alleging contamination with salmonella following the consumption of Kinder products made by Ferrero in Arlon, Belgium. This was announced by the Paris prosecutor's Office.
After a May 19 complaint by Foodwatch France, a consumer protection association, this investigation was opened into the charges of "deceit aggravated with the danger to human life", "involuntary assaults on physical integrity" as well as "endangering lives of others".
The association released a statement saying that Ferrero and Nestle must be held accountable. Two families with two children, 9 and 6 years old, were the first to complain about Kinder's consumption. They had fallen ill from eating eggs. Louna, the youngest of the two girls, was admitted to a hospital for salmonella poisoning. This led to myocarditis. Foodwatch reported.
Additional complaints were filed at Rouen's prosecutor's Office. This is the headquarters of the group in France. "I have too many complaints, but I know a few things: there are salmonella every time, the incubation times are correct, the packaging is correct, and I have the invoices. Ferrero hid salmonella in its factory for several months," said Jeremy Kalfon, a family lawyer.
