Tahini from Syria has been linked to three diseases in New Zealand, with recalls continuing across Europe.
The three patients were infected with Salmonella quinta. Patients have been previously reported in the United States, Canada and throughout Europe as part of a broader outbreak.
In late July in New Zealand, Middle East, a specific batch of Algota brand sesame tahini was recalled due to the possible presence of Salmonella.
New Zealand Food Safety Authority Deputy Commissioner Vincent Arbuckle said: “We can confirm that we have received three Reports of related illnesses. Due to privacy concerns, we are unable to provide information on these cases.
“As is common practice for recalls in other countries, we have contacted food safety officials in Europe and will Keep updating them. “
The recalled products are sold at a store in Wellington in various pack sizes in plastic containers or drums. They have batch markings 498 or 359.
Global Outbreak
Previously, 6 cases of Salmonella Mbandaka were reported in the United States , 1 in 2020 and 5 last year.
Canada has 8 confirmed cases: 5 Salmonella Mbandaka, 2 Salmonella Havana and from 2019 to 2021, Salmonella Orion One.
In Europe, 121 people in five countries have been affected since January 2019, with Germany the most affected.
Six different Countries In Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands, the species of Salmonella is the cause of disease. The most common is Salmonella Havana, followed by Salmonella Mbandaka, Salmonella Orion, Salmonella kintambo, Salmonella Senftenberg and Amsterdam Salmonella.
Since mid-June 2022, Germany has issued 11 notifications on the Rapid Alert System Food and Feed (RASFF) involving tahini, halwa and tahini from Syria
In April, Norway reported two illnesses caused by Salmonella Senftenberg and Salmonella Orion in Syrian halwa products.
Online Complaint Meanwhile, Food Safety New Zealand has updated an online tool for people to lodge food complaints.
Through a series of drop-down menus, people can report to Food Safety New Zealand Departments provide information. It includes guidance on what complaints can be made online and which should be sent to local authorities to help ensure alerts about food safety risks are sent to the correct contacts. The Food Compliance Officer will communicate with anyone filling out the online people contacting the form.
More than 90 recalls have occurred so far this year, compared to 154 for all of 2021.
“Consumers play a role in the food safety system Play an important role – by filing a complaint, you are helping to keep your community safe. If you see something wrong, we encourage you to let us know so we can find out. Consumers should be reassured that if, for whatever reason, something unusual happens or is discovered, even if it appears to be a one-off, their report helps ensure everyone’s food consumption is safe,” Arbuckle said.
“In most cases, businesses meet good food safety standards and work with us to eliminate any unsafe or non-compliant food to prevent it from becoming a bigger problem. Of course, there will also be some food safety issues that go unreported. With this in mind, we’ve made it easier for people to alert us to potential problems with our new online tool. “
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