A new extended alert and recall of certain Kinder egg products has been issued due to an "extensive outbreak" of salmonella infection primarily among children.
In Ireland, 15 cases of salmonella infection have now been identified since the end of January, with the most recent case occurring in mid-March.
The Irish outbreak is part of a larger problem affecting a number of other European countries and the UK. An investigation is ongoing.
"The great majority of people who have become ill in this wider outbreak have reported eating Kinder products [manufactured by Ferrero] in the days before they became unwell," the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and the Health Service Executive (HSE) said in a statement on Friday evening.
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Symptoms of salmonella infection in children include nausea and vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea, but are mild in the majority of cases.
Parents have been advised that if their children develop worrying symptoms such as a lot of diarrhoea, diarrhoea with blood in it, extensive vomiting, high temperature or severe headache, they should seek medical attention from a GP.
Ferrero has extended its recall of Kinder products to include all best before dates.
Specific products it listed on Friday include Kinder Surprise (20g and 100g); Kinder Mini Eggs (75g); Kinder Egg Hunt Kit (150g); and Kinder Schokobons (all sizes).
