The Minnesota Department of Health has announced that two children have been sickened with Salmonella bacteria linked to Krinos brand tahini. That product was recalled earlier this month; at the time, FDA officials said there were no illnesses associated with the tahini. Their illnesses are caused by the two strains of bacteria found in the recalled product.
According to the FDA, the tahini was recalled April 28, 2013 after the Michigan Department of Agriculture found Salmonella Montevideo in routine sampling. Then the FDA found Salmonella Mbandaka in the same brand of tahini. The strains match the DNA fingerprint of an outbreak that has affected a small number of people in severeal states.
The infection in one of the Minnesota cases matches the Salmonella Mbandaka outbreak strain and one matches the Salmonella Montevideo outbreak strain. Neither child was hospitalized; both are recovering at this time.
The recalled product is Krinos brand tahini sesame paste. It was distributed nationwide. The tahini is sold in 1 pound glass jars with UPC number 0-75013-28500-3, 2 pound glass jars with UPC number 0-75013-28510-2, and in 40 pound plastic pails with UPC number 0-75013-04018-3. The expiration dates for the products range from EXP JAN 01 – 2014 up to and including EXP JUN 8 – 2014 and EXP OCT 16 – 2014 up to and including EXP MAR 15 – 2015.
If you purchased these products and experienced the symptoms of a Salmonella infection, including diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever, please see your doctor as soon as possible. The bacteria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, and long term complications of that infection can be severe.
