MILLIONS of people could be facing a chocolate shortage after a salmonella outbreak stopped production at the world's biggest chocolate factory.
It supplies chocolate products to huge brands including Nestle, Hershey, Mondelez and Unilever.
The factory, run by Swiss company Barry Callebaut, is in the the Belgian town of Weize.
Any customers who may have received contaminated chocolate will be contacted, the company confirmed.
Salmonella is a bacterial infection usually caused by eating raw or undercooked meat.
It can cause serious food poisoning with symptoms including stomach cramps, diarrhoea, a fever and vomiting.
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Spokesman Korneel Warlop said: "All products manufactured since the test have been blocked.
"Chocolate production in Wieze remains suspended until further notice."
It produces liquid chocolate in wholesale batches and contacted 73 of its customers it believed could be affected.
The Belgian factory does not make chocolates to be sold directly to consumers.
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A spokesman for Barry Callebaut told The Sun that "chances are very high that no affected chocolate entered the food chain".
A spokesman said it has no reason to believe that any contaminated goods made by its clients have reached shop shelves.
He said: "On Monday June 27 Barry Callebaut discovered a salmonella-positive production lot manufactured in Wieze.
"For Barry Callebaut, food safety is of the utmost importance.
"The robust food safety programs ensured that lecithin could be quickly identified as a source of contamination.
"Barry Callebaut informed the Belgian food authorities (FASFC) of the incident and shut down all chocolate production lines in Wieze as a precaution.
"All products made since the test were blocked. Barry Callebaut is currently contacting all customers who may have received affected products.
"Chocolate production in Wieze will remain suspended until further notice."
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Kinder issued an urgent recall of some chocolate productions in the run up to Easter in April due to salmonella risks.
Ferrero, which makes the popular sweet treats, warned customers not to eat several items including Kinder Surprise eggs over food poisoning fears.
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