100+ kosher candies and chocolates recalled due to salmonella concerns
Tomorrow May 5th is Yom Ha’atzmaut, the Jewish holiday celebrating Israel’s 1948 Declaration of Independence. Jews all over the world will be celebrating. Those partaking in the festivities by eating kosher candy and chocolate though are going to need to be on the lookout. 100 plus kosher candies and chocolates have been recalled because they may contain salmonella.
Strauss Israel and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the voluntary recall of “Strauss’ Elite-branded products, including Elite chocolate, cakes, chewing gum, energy chocolate rice cakes, energy grain snacks, and wafers.” The products were manufactured in Israel, and distributed online and by retailers in the following states: California, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, and New York. Online retailers include Amazon, Fresh Direct, Passover.com, and more. A comprehensive list of the recalled products can be found here. Another 97 products have been recalled by Canada’s Food Inspection Agency over similar concerns.
So what led to the recall? According to Food&Wine.com, the candies and chocolates were produced in a facility where Salmonella was found “in both the liquid chocolate used in the products, and on equipment in the production line.” Salmonella, as we've written before, usually doesn’t pose a serious risk. While unpleasant, young and healthy individuals are often able to weather the symptoms. For children, the ederly, or those with weakened immune systems though salmonella is much more of a concern. For those individuals, arterial infections, endocarditis, and arthritis are all potential concerns.
Strauss Israel has contacted retailers and customers to have the products removed from store shelves, and is issuing retailers and customers refunds. It appears that at this time, customers have a long wait to hear back from Strauss. For their part, Strauss stresses that they “will get back to all inquiries.”
To read the full story on this timely recall from Food&Wine.com, follow this link: https://bit.ly/3ls5dkr