The Israeli Ministry of Health has reported almost 40 cases of Salmonella infection linked to tahini products that have also sickened five people in the United States.

The Ministry of Health found a possible connection between the Salmonella accumulation and tahini by Achdut with expiry dates April 7, 2019, through May 21, 2019.

The agency again highlighted an earlier recall and advice which told people not to consume tahini with those expiry dates of all weights and package variants that had been marketed to retail, institutional markets and restaurants.

The Ministry of Health said it was continuing an investigation into the 38 infections in Israel and was in communication with authorities overseas in which cases related to these products were also being investigated.

On Nov. 22, Achdut informed customers that Salmonella was found in a lab test conducted for raw tahini in North America.

Tahini products packed under five brands were recalled in the U.S. last month because a sample tested positive for a strain of Salmonella Concord that had infected people in the country. States with cases are HI, MI and NY.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised consumers not to eat Achva, Achdut, Soom, S&F, Pepperwood, and Baron’s brand tahini. The expiration dates it gave, ranging from April 7, 2020, to May 21, 2020, differed by one year from those given by the Israeli authority.

Of the five U.S. patients interviewed, all reported consuming hummus made with tahini; three people said they ate tahini or hummus made with tahini in a restaurant in the U.S., while the other two reported consuming tahini or hummus made with tahini during international travel.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has also identified illnesses associated with tahini products during its investigation into a foodborne outbreak.

The agency did not say how many people were sick but the investigation has led to several products being recalled.

The Chef’s Warehouse recalled Soom brand tahini products due to possible Salmonella contamination. Chocolate Sweet Tahini Halva Spread 340g with product code 071318CH and Sesame Premium Tahini 454g and 39.6lb with product codes 18-109, 18-121, and 18-123 are affected.

Achva and S&F brand tahini products were also recalled due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Achva Whole Sesame Tahini and Organic Tahini 500g lot 18-099, Tahini and Whole Tahini 500g lot 18-106, Seasoned Tahini 500g lot 18-128 and Tahini – Crushed Sesame Seeds 500g lot 18-130 are part of the recall. Achva Tahini lot 18-106 and S&F Pure Tahini lot 18-099 in 18kg packs are also affected.

Products were sold in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec and may have been distributed in other provinces.

In New Zealand, Cuisine Market recalled Achva and La Mamma tahini due to the possible presence of Salmonella.

Achva brand Tahini (18kg, 1kg, and 500g) and La Mamma brand Tahini (600g) have batch numbers 18-097 to 18-141 and best before April 7, 2020 and May 21, 2020.

They are sold in various wholesalers, retail stores, and supermarkets nationwide and on the La Mamma website.

New Zealand authorities said there have been no associated reports of illness from the products.

Gattings Ltd. recalled hummus due to the possible presence of Salmonella. The products were manufactured using the recalled tahini. They are sold at Farro Fresh stores throughout Auckland and on the Farro Fresh website.

Georgatti brand Beetroot Hummus 200g with batch marking GQ1120 and Best Before Dec 4, 2018 and Georgatti brand Our Hummus 200g and 50g with batch marking: GA 1120 and GA 1127 and Best Before Dec 4 and 11, 2018 are also affected.

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)