Overview
- In the BVL’s retail survey, Salmonella was detected in about 2% of 354 sesame product samples, including tahini and halva.
- Vulnerable consumers—young children, older adults, immunocompromised people, and pregnant women—are advised to avoid raw sesame products.
- BVL president Gaby-Fleur Böl noted that sesame foods are often consumed unheated, preventing the elimination of any bacteria present.
- Likely contamination routes include animal feces on fields, polluted irrigation water, and the use of organic fertilizers.
- Officials report no large outbreak or product recalls, while pressing producers and retailers to reinforce hygiene practices and quality control.