Salmonella Finds, World's Largest Chocolate Factory Stops Production For Contamination Investigation

JAKARTA - A large Belgian chocolate factory has stopped production after detecting salmonella in a batch of chocolate.

Barry Callebaut's company said Thursday its factory in Wieze, said to be the world's largest chocolate factory, closed all production lines as a precaution while contamination was investigated.

It is known, Barry Callebaut produces chocolate for various brands that are sold around the world, reports Euronews July 1st.

Salmonella was detected on Monday, and all chocolate products made at the factory are suspended pending an investigation, the company said. It identified lecithin, an emulsifier routinely used in chocolate making, as a source of contamination.

A company spokesman told Agence France-Presse (AFP) production had been halted at the factory, which produces melted chocolate in wholesale batches for 73 clients who make the confectionery.

"All products manufactured since testing have been blocked," spokesman Korneel Warlop told AFP.

The company said it had notified Belgian food safety authorities, as well as contacted customers who might have contaminated product. Most of the products found to be contaminated were still on site, he said.

"Barry Callebaut is currently in contact with all customers who may have received contaminated product. Chocolate production at Wieze remains suspended until further notice," a spokesperson explained. The company asks their clients not to ship any products they have made with chocolate made since June 25 at this Wieze factory, which is in Flanders, northwest of Brussels.

Meanwhile, Belgian food safety agency AFSCA has been notified and a spokesman told AFP it had opened an investigation.

To note, the Swiss group Barry Callebaut supplies cocoa and chocolate products to many food industry companies in the world, including industrial giants such as Hershey, Mondelez, Nestle or Unilever.

Occupying world number one in this sector, its annual sales reached 2.2 million tonnes during the 2020-2021 financial year. The group employs more than 13,000 people and has more than 60 production sites worldwide.

Earlier this year, at least 200 reported cases of salmonella were believed to be linked to chocolate Easter eggs made at another Belgian factory operated by Italian company Ferrero.

Belgian health authorities announced on June 17 they had given the green light to restart the Italian giant for a three-month trial period.