Category Archives: Salmonella in Chocolate

GOV IL

Salmonella bacteria usually cause mild and short symptoms and in most cases the patient makes a full recovery within a couple of days.

Special care is required when immunosuppressed individuals and older adults are concerned.

Therefore, in otherwise healthy individuals who have consumed the products, they should seek medical attention if they experience significant side effects of the gastrointestinal system – diarrhea accompanied by bloody stool or fever. In immunosuppressed individuals and older adults, they should also seek medical attention in case of milder side effects.

The Ministry of Health wishes to clarify the sequence of events:

• On 19.4.22 initial findings were received from the manufacturer. These findings have been received as part of routine testing and shown traces of salmonella in the manufacturing area but not in the food products sampled in the factory that have not been shipped yet. Consequently, the manufacturer has been instructed to conduct more extensive tests on the manufacturing area, the products and the raw materials.
• On 21.4.22, during the evening hours, reports were received of non-final findings indicative of salmonella contamination in the raw material. These findings were the result of a rapid test rather than a full laboratory test that takes about 5 days. Therefore, the manufacturer was not required to issue a recall.
• Yesterday, Sunday (24.422), in the afternoon, the manufacturer turned to the Ministry of Health with the final test results, indicative of salmonella contamination in the manufacturing area and in the raw material.
• Following the reception of final test results from both the raw materials and the manufacturing area, the manufacturer has issued a voluntary recall in coordination with the Food Service in the Ministry of Health for all chocolate products manufactured since early February.
• It should be noted that final test results have not been received yet for the sampled chocolate products currently sold in stores. That is to say: These recalls come as an added precaution, until final results are received for chocolate products tomorrow (27.4.22).
• Following the recall by Strauss-Elite, additional food manufacturers that use the same raw materials as Strauss-Elite in their products are issuing additional recalls.

Furthermore, a wide array of additional products is being sampled for testing, in coordination with our Ministry.
Our Ministry has ordered the manufacturer to file a report of the investigation into the cause of this incident and to take corrective actions to prevent such incidents from reoccurring in the future.
The resumption of routine manufacturing activities will be possible after the completion of the investigation of this incident, the completion of corrective actions for the prevention of such incidents from reoccurring, the cleaning and sanitization of the manufacturing lines and following inspection and the reception of normal test results by our Ministry.
Consumer guidance is according to the recall announcements communicated in the media and in the Ministry of Health’s website.

The Ministry of Health continues to closely monitor and investigate this incident, and additional actions will be taken according to the findings of the investigation.

The Ministry of Health will continue to take all the actions at its disposal in order to maintain the products’ safety and the Israeli public’s health.

MPI

28 April 2022: Benedikt Imports Pty Ltd is recalling all batches, all dates, all packaging, or size and all flavour variations of Elite branded confectionery products, including Elite chocolate, Elite cakes, Elite wafers, Energy grain snacks, Energy chocolate rice cakes, gum and toffee candies due to the possible presence of Salmonella.

If you are a retailer of any of the Elite brand products listed in this recall notice, you need to download a copy of the below Point of Sale notice and display in your store for one month:

Point of sale notice [PDF, 45KB]

Consumer advice

Customers are asked to check the brand of products before consumption.

Affected products should not be consumed. There have been cases of illnesses in Israel reportedly linked to Elite brand confectionery products, manufactured by Elite-Strauss Group, Israel. There have been no confirmed cases of illnesses in New Zealand, however if you have consumed any of these products and have any concerns about your health, seek medical advice.

Customers should return the products to their retailer for a full refund.

Further information on Salmonella

Who to contact

If you have questions, contact Benedikt Imports Pty Ltd:

• Phone: +61 3 9577 3000
• Email: enquiries@benedikts.com
• Address: 2 Keys Road, Moorabbin, Victoria, Australia.