A viral claim circulating states that a “Kinder chocolate recall” is underway because 127 people, including 45 children, were infected with Salmonella. The claim is presented as an ongoing outbreak in 2025. However, we found that the claim is missing context and refers to a 2021-2022 outbreak that has already been resolved.
Social Media Posts
Recently, multiple videos on Facebook claim that Kinder chocolate is recalled due to over 100 salmonella cases.
A similar claim states that over 450 salmonella cases are linked to Kinder chocolate and reports it as breaking news.
Fact Check
Outbreak Identified by Health Authorities in 2022
The multi-country Salmonella Typhimurium ST34 outbreak linked to Kinder chocolate products was first detected in early 2022. Public health agencies, including the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO), confirmed that products manufactured at Ferrero’s Arlon, Belgium facility were epidemiologically linked to infections across Europe. A rapid outbreak assessment published on 12 April 2022 reported 150 confirmed and probable cases across nine EU/EEA countries and the United Kingdom, with the earliest samples dating back to December 2021 and most cases occurring in young children.
WHO’s Disease Outbreak News similarly reported 151 genetically related cases in 11 countries as of 25 April 2022, noting that nearly 90% of patients were children under 10 and that no deaths had been recorded. These early reports establish that over 100 infections were confirmed during the initial phase of the outbreak.
Larger Case Totals in Later Reports and Analyses
As surveillance expanded through the spring of 2022, case numbers rose considerably. By mid-May, EFSA documented 324 confirmed and probable cases across 12 EU/EEA countries and the UK, reflecting improved molecular tracing and broader national reporting.
By 15 July 2022, aggregated surveillance bulletins indicated about 401 cases in the EU/EEA and UK, with additional infections reported in Canada, Switzerland, and the United States. This brought the global total to approximately 455 cases. (Source) These larger figures represent the full scope of the 2021–2022 outbreak after months of investigation, not a new surge or a 2025 event.
Context and Misinterpretation of Figures
The outbreak evolved over several months, with case counts increasing as more countries conducted retrospective testing and reporting. Social media posts circulating in 2025 that cite “100+ cases” or “400+ cases” often remove the dates, implying that these figures describe a current outbreak. In reality, all such numbers refer to the same 2021-2022 Salmonella event linked to the Arlon factory, documented through official and independently compiled surveillance records.
Neither WHO nor EFSA/ECDC has issued any notice of a new Salmonella outbreak linked to Kinder chocolate in 2025, and recent scientific reviews characterize the 2021-2022 outbreak as concluded, with the last known case recorded in June 2022. (Source)
Recalls and Corrective Actions Taken in 2022
All related recalls occurred during early 2022. The UK Food Standards Agency issued multiple recall notices for Kinder Surprise, Kinder Mini Eggs, and Schokobons. Ferrero publicly acknowledged “internal inefficiencies” in information-sharing and temporarily suspended operations at the Arlon plant while extending international recalls. These measures confirm that the outbreak and recalls were confined to 2022 and are not ongoing. (Source)
Conclusion
The claim that 127 people, including 45 children, were infected in a new Kinder chocolate Salmonella outbreak is missing context. While a genuine outbreak did occur in 2021-2022 with case counts ranging from approximately 150 to 455 depending on the reporting period and scope, there is no evidence of a new outbreak in 2025.
Title:No New Kinder Chocolate Salmonella Outbreak in 2025; Posts Recycle 2022 Incident
Fact Check By: Cielito WangResult:Missing Context
