#Salmonella #Kinder #chocolates #scandal #Ferrero #explains #time
Nicolas Neykov, General Manager for France at Ferrero, faced questions from several readers of Le Parisien. A first after the salmonella scandal.
During a meeting with the readers of Le Parisien, Nicolas Neykov, General Manager France of Ferreroresponded squarely to questions from the French after the scandal since chocolate Kindergarten was contaminated with Salmonella. If the group has expressed itself extensively through numerous press releases, this is the first time that its boss has addressed the press, this Thursday, May 26.
Among the topics, for him, explains the newspaper, giving answers to families of the 80 children disgusted by chocolates. A mea culpa without hesitation since Nicolás Neykov admitted the guilt of his group: “Was there failure? Yes, it is very clear, he admits without acknowledging, however, negligence.
The source of the contamination has not yet been identified.
Therefore, in his answers, the director of Ferrero France was able to provide information on the source of salmonella contamination. “It comes from a filter located in a tub of butter dairy products. It arrived at the factory either through contaminated raw materials or through people”, he explains, admitting that he does not understand how, in 75 years of control, this bacterium was able to enter the factory.
to the question of the reaction time of the company between the detection of salmonella in December and the withdrawal of the merchandise on April 2, Nicolás Neykov assures that Kinder did the right thing. “As soon as the first outbreaks appeared, we put ourselves on alert. It was not until April 2 that the English authorities established a statistical correspondence with the consumption of Kinder Surprise. Thereafter, Ferrero launched a recall of all its products. Great Britain, then in France, the next day “, he justifies.
We make decisions based on the information we receive. Nicolas Neykov – Director of Ferrero France
a colossal loss
The magnitude of the loss for Kinder is colossal, says its director. “Almost 40% of our Easter turnover was lost”, for a total of more than 3,000 tons thrown away and millions of items destroyed.
But the latter is reassuring and certifies that all measures have been and will be taken to ensure optimal quality control. The Arlon factory in Belgium, where the problem began, will isolate its raw material production line and put its employees through a decontamination airlock. If it still reopened, on June 13, wait.
Because the task promises to be immense for Kinder. Nicolás Neykov acknowledges that “60% of consumers no longer trust the brand. The road will be long but we will do it together”, he concludes.