In the news

The Ministry of Health of Israel published a series of flaws in how the Elite Nof Hagalil factory operated, which likely led to the introduction of salmonella. So far, there are 21 cases of suspected salmonella infections and six hospitalizations from the Strauss factory in Nof Hagalil. As a result, the Israeli health ministry closed the factory for 3 months. The Ministry of Health has published a list of flaws in the factory operation, which likely led to the introduction of salmonella. Pigeons had entered the factory several months ago and could have been the source of the contamination. The Ministry of Health found that the factory’s quality control team had undergone changes over the past year, and there was temporarily no food safety manager at the factory. Most significantly, salmonella contamination seems widespread within the factory, with 30 samples positive for salmonella out of 300 taken. The affair had led to one of the most extensive product recalls which has ever taken place in Israel, encompassing all products of the factory affected: Elite chocolate, Elite cakes, Elite waffles, Energy snack bars, Energy chocolate covered rice crackers, chewing gum, and soft sweets, with all expiry dates. @ https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-21-suspected-salmonella-infections-from-strauss-plant-1001410757

The CFIA reported that more poppy seeds are recalled from the marketplace because of possible Salmonella contamination. The latest recall is for Healthy Planet – Markham; the recalled product has been sold at Healthy Planet – Markham, ON. There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product. The latest brand recalled is Healthy Planet – Markham. @ https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/certain-organic-poppy-seeds-recalled-due-salmonella

April 29, 2022 – The USDA/FSIS reported that Wayne Farms, LLC. (Decatur, Alabama) recalled approximately 30,285 pounds of a ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken breast fillet product that may be undercooked. The RTE chicken breast fillet products were produced on March 1 and 21, 2022. Included a 9-lb. case containing 8 packages of 6-oz “ALL NATURAL FIRE GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST” , and a 9-lb. cases containing 12 packages of 4-oz “ALL NATURAL FIRE GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST.” The products were shipped to a distributor in Illinois and further distributed to restaurants. The problem was discovered when the firm received a customer complaint that the RTE chicken product appeared to be undercooked. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to the consumption of these products. FSIS is concerned that some products may be in distributors’ or restaurant freezers or refrigerators. @ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/wayne-farms-llc-recalls-ready-eat-chicken-breast-fillet-products-may-be-undercooked#:~:text=FSIS%20Announcement,Service%20(FSIS)%20announced%20today

The Large Salmonella in chocolate outbreak in Israel hit the US. The FDA announced that Strauss Israel voluntarily recalls Elite branded products (Elite Chocolate, Cakes, Wafers, Energy Grain Snacks, Energy Chocolate Rice Cakes, Chewing Gum, and Toffee Candies), including all product codes currently on the US market. The Elite products have been distributed in the kosher market nationally, primarily in the Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, and Florida. Additionally, products have been sold directly to customers via Amazon.com, Fresh Direct, Passover.com, and Retailer Online Sites. The products are being recalled as they were manufactured in a facility in which Salmonella was detected in the production line and in the liquid chocolate used to produce the finished products. No illnesses have been reported to date. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/strauss-israel-announces-voluntary-recall-certain-confectionery-products-because-possible-health