After 6 Weeks Closed Due To Salmonella Bacteria, The World's Largest Belgian Chocolate Factory Opens Again

Photo via Twitter @BarryCallebaut

JAKARTA - Barry Callebaut, the world's largest chocolate maker, finally restarted its operations Monday, August 8. The factory was previously closed for six weeks to clean up salmonella contamination.

Three of the 24 production lines at the factory in the city of Wieze were resumed and the first deliveries were made, said Barry Callebaut, the Swiss company that runs the plant.

The factory - which supplies industrial giants such as Hershey, Nestle, and Unilever but not directly to consumers - closed in late June after salmonella bacteria were found in one lot.

Zurich-based Barry Callebaut explained it was stopping deliveries and notifying clients in time to prevent contaminated chocolate from entering stores.

It identified lecithin, which is added to delicate food textures, as a source of contamination, which prompted weeks of extensive cleaning.

"We remain cautious because this operation is unprecedented, the cleaning and disinfection process takes a lot of time," spokesman Barry Callebaut said.