Salmonella contamination of Lebanese tahini

Friday 26 September 2003

Category C: Action as deemed necessary

Heads of Environmental Health Services and Directors of Trading Standards will wish to be aware that following a programme of sampling a brand of Tahini has been found to test positive for Salmonella. The brand of Tahini affected is manufactured in the Lebanon by S. H Yaman and Sons.

Description of Product

Brand Name: S. H Yaman and Sons

This product is sold in 16kg catering tins; the product is described on the label as Tahini 100% Ground Hulled Sesame Seeds. The manufacturer is S.H Yaman and Sons, Zahle – Lebanon PO Box 91, Saidon – Maghdoucha Crossing, Lebanon.

The product is generally found in catering premises, primarily restaurants and cafés selling Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Turkish and Greek style foods.

To assist Local Authorities in correct identification of this product, a picture of the label can be viewed at the link below.

All batches with best before dates between January 2005 up to July 2005 inclusive are affected.

Action taken by the Food Standards Agency:

The FSA has informed the European Commission and requested that action be taken by the authorities in Lebanon to investigate the salmonella contamination of this product.

Action to be taken by local authorities:

The importer of this product has undertaken a trade withdrawal from caterers that have been supplied by them. However, there is the possibility that affected product may still be held by caterers. Local Authorities that have catering premises selling Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Turkish and Greek style foods in their area, who may use Tahini, are requested to contact them to advise them that the product with the above Best Before dates is contaminated. If these products are found within their area, enforcement officers should ensure that they are withdrawn from sale and destroyed.

Local authorities are also asked to consider providing local publicity at the next available opportunity to this issue.