The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said 86.3% of the cases were among children aged 10 or younger, and for all cases in Europe with information available, 41.3% of them were admitted to hospital.
No deaths have been reported.
Cases have been reported in 14 European countries, Canada and the United States.
The European Union agency still suspects a Belgian factory.
Its closure in April, the global recall and withdrawal of its products from the shelves “have reduced the risk of exposure, but new cases may occur due to the long shelf life and possible storage of products at home”, the agency said.
In early April, food authorities in several European countries said that Italian company Ferrero had recalled specific batches of Kinder chocolate products due to suspicions of a connection between the products and an outbreak of salmonella.
The two outbreak strains, which are both multidrug-resistant, were identified in 10 of the 81 salmonella-positive samples taken in the Belgian plant in December and January, including in buttermilk, semi-finished and finished products.
The buttermilk was provided by an Italian supplier where salmonella was not detected.
“Based on the available evidence, salmonella has not been detected in other plants,” the agency said on Wednesday.
The Stockholm-based agency said it continues to monitor the situation and encouraged close co-operation with food safety authorities in the countries affected.
Published: 19/05/2022 by Radio NewsHub
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is under mounting pressure from business leaders, charities and MPs from across the political spectrum to produce a package of support after inflation hit a 40-year high, with food and energy costs among the main concerns. But wrangling continued within the Cabinet over the idea of using a windfall tax on oil and gas producers which have benefited from high global prices to fund measures to help […]
