Salmonella in sesame products
Sensitive consumer groups should not consume certain products
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sesame products can pose a risk of infection with salmonella. Investigations of samples from the retail trade confirm this suspicion, as announced by the Federal Office of consumer protection and food safety (BVL) at the presentation of the Zoonoses Monitoring 2024. The pathogenic germs were detected in two percent of the samples tested.
During the tests, 354 samples of sesame products from retail outlets were tested for the presence of salmonella. These were products such as tahini, a paste made from sesame seeds originating from Arabic cuisine, which is used as a basic ingredient in hummus, for example, or the confectionery specialty halva, which is also widespread in the Middle East and South-East Europe. Salmonella was detected in two percent of the samples.
"These results show that sesame products can pose a risk of infection with salmonella. These products are usually consumed without prior heating, so that existing germs are not killed," explains BVL President Prof. Dr. Gaby-Fleur Böl. "Sesame products have already been the cause of several food-borne salmonellosis outbreaks in the past."
The BVL advises sensitive consumer groups in particular, such as small children, elderly and immunocompromised people and pregnant women, not to consume raw sesame products. The results show how important it is to adhere to good hygiene practices when growing, harvesting and processing sesame seeds. Great care must therefore be taken in the quality control of sesame products with regard to possible contamination with salmonella.
Salmonella is found in the gastrointestinal tract of many domestic and wild animals and is excreted in their feces. Such excretions in the field, contaminated irrigation water and organic fertilization can also contaminate plant foods with salmonella.
Note: This article has been translated using a computer system without human intervention. LUMITOS offers these automatic translations to present a wider range of current news. Since this article has been translated with automatic translation, it is possible that it contains errors in vocabulary, syntax or grammar. The original article in German can be found here.
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Topic world Food safety
Food safety is at the heart of the food and beverage industry. It ensures that the food we eat every day is not only nutritious, but also free of harmful contaminants. From field to plate, the industry monitors and regulates every step of the process with strict quality controls, advanced testing methods and continuous research.
Topic world Food safety
Food safety is at the heart of the food and beverage industry. It ensures that the food we eat every day is not only nutritious, but also free of harmful contaminants. From field to plate, the industry monitors and regulates every step of the process with strict quality controls, advanced testing methods and continuous research.