- Salmonella Typhimurium was detected in a factory belonging to Italian candy manufacturer, Ferrero.
- Rwanda was the first African country to recall all Kinder Joy products from the market.
- About 150 suspected cases of salmonellosis were found in 10 European countries and the United States.
Rwanda is the first African country to publicly recall Kinder Joy chocolates from the market after a cautionary statement was issued by the Italian candy manufacturer, Ferrero.
Rwanda's Food and Drug Authority (FDA) said in a press release that "the products are being recalled because they were manufactured in a facility where Salmonella Typhimurium was detected".
Salmonella is a food-borne illness that can result in diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps.
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The authority was yet to receive any complaints of illness associated with eating the chocolate.
"However, informed by the findings of inspections conducted, the authority noticed that the concerned products were imported and already distributed to different supermarkets in the country," said Dr Emile Bienvenu, the FDA's director-general.
It was also said the suppliers (Ferrero) had communicated to the importers about the health scare.
Since then, shops that have the chocolates in the store have been instructed to remove it from the shelves.
The public has also been advised not to consume the chocolate.
Bienvenu said:
Last week, several countries reported suspected cases of salmonellosis following the consumption of the Belgium-based Kinder brand of chocolate.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the decision was arrived at after about 150 suspected cases of salmonellosis were found: Belgium (26), France (25), Germany (10), Ireland (15), Luxembourg (1), Netherlands (2), Norway (1), Spain (1), Sweden (4), the United Kingdom (65) and the United States of America (1).
"The risk of spread in the WHO European region and globally is assessed as moderate until the information is available on the full recall of the products," the WHO said in a statement.
It is believed that "at least 113 countries across Europe and globally have received Kinder products during the period of risk".
Kinder Joys are popular with children because they come with a small gift or toy inside the packaging.
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