Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Salmonella is found in Minstrels & Galaxy bars
Recalls over food-poisoning alert
UP to one million Galaxy bars and bags of Minstrels may be contaminated with salmonella, chocolate giant Mars has warned.
The treats are being cleared off shop shelves – along with tens of thousands of bags of Galaxy Counters and Maltesers Teasers. Routine tests found “the potential presence” of the food poisoning bug, which can prove deadly. Chocolate from Mars’s factory in Slough, Berks, is affected. A Mars spokesman said yesterday: “We believe the vast majority of this product is under our control.” No cases of food poisoning have been reported, but the confectioner said it had voluntarily recalled products “with the best interests of our consumers at heart”. Mars said affected chocolate should not be eaten and the Food Standards Agency urged shoppers to contact the company if they have a bar or pouch from the recalled batch. Symptoms of salmonella include fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps and can take 12-72 hours to develop. Mars apologised for the nationwide recall and said it was a precaution “in order to ensure the safety and confidence of our consumers”. The products at the centre of the scare are the flagship Galaxy Milk 200g bars and the 42g and 4x42g multipacks. Minstrels pouches 118g, Maltesers Teasers 35g, and Galaxy Counters 112g and 78g have also been recalled. Mars added: “Through our routine testing, we have detected the potential presence of salmonella from the ingredients used to make our chocolate.” The firm would not say which ingredient was involved. Affected customers can call 0800 952 0084 or visit mars.co.uk/contact for help and refunds.