NewsDesk @bactiman63
Chain of events
The Israeli Ministry of Health published the chain of events involving the Strauss-Elite products last week:
On April 19, 2002, preliminary findings were received from the manufacturer that came up as part of routine inspections and showed the presence of salmonella in the production area but not in the food products sampled at the factory and not yet marketed. As a result, the company was instructed to conduct broader tests of the production environment, products and raw material.
On April 21, a report was received of non-final findings that indicated a suspicion of the presence of salmonella in the raw material – in a quick test and not a full laboratory test lasting about 5 days. Therefore, the manufacturer is not required to perform a recall.
On April 24, the manufacturer contacted the Ministry of Health with the final test results, which indicate that there is evidence of salmonella in the production environment and in the raw material.
Following the final results in the raw materials and in the production environment, the company carried out an initiated (recall) return in coordination with the food service at the Ministry of Health, to all chocolate products whose production date is from the beginning of February.
Ministry of Health audit at the Strauss Elite plant
The Ministry of Health published finding today on the sanitary and technological audit which took place last week at the Strauss Elite plant:
The audit found significant deficiencies in the company’s procedures and conduct. As a result, the Ministry of Health’s professionals decided to suspend the company’s proper production permit for a period of three months or until all the deficiencies found in the audit were corrected.
Main findings:
In recent months, maintenance work has been carried out at the plant in parallel with the continuation of the chocolate production processes at the plant without taking into account the potential risks that may affect the production process and quality control of the plant.
It was found that the professional quality control team at the plant has been replaced in the past year and that a standard of the plant’s food safety manager is temporarily missing, which indicates that the plant’s quality control and safety system is deficient.
During an audit by the Ministry of Health, it became clear that a customer of the plant reported to the plant values of salmonella indicators higher than the permitted standard in the chocolate liquid, but the complaint was not handled by the plant as required and that no tests were performed for salmonella bacteria.
During the inspection, a material failure was found in the process of thawing the milk fat of the chocolate and that it was not done according to the thawing and storage instructions of the manufacturer, which could cause contamination.
The Ministry of Health would like to update that according to the results of the tests conducted so far, the connection between the chocolate event in Belgium and the event in Israel has been ruled out.
Out of about 300 samples taken so far at the event (from the factory’s production line, raw material and products in the process, from final products within the factory and through marketing), about 30 positive samples for salmonella have been found so far. The positive samples so far are from the factory only.
The positive samples were transferred to the National Salmonella Center in the Public Health Laboratory of the Ministry of Health for laboratory tests to determine the type of bacterium. From 14 samples it was found that the bacterium in the culture is of the serovar type = S.16: 1, v: – Salmonella entercia, different, as mentioned, from that found in Belgium. The possibility of another strain of salmonella involved in the chocolate event cannot be ruled out.
In updating the daily morning data (Sunday) on the salmonella events so far 21 cases (at different ages) have been reported with an alleged epidemiological link, from the chocolate event. Cultures were taken from 16 of the patients, results will be obtained in the coming days. Note that six of the patients came for hospital treatment and the rest needed community care. On the face of it, at this point, these numbers do not appear to be exceptional and do not indicate a widespread outbreak.
On April 28, Strauss Israel of Israel voluntarily recalled the following Elite branded products: Elite Chocolate, Cakes, Wafers, Energy Grain Snacks, Energy Chocolate Rice Cakes, Chewing Gum and Toffee Candies, including all product codes currently on the US market.
This recall does not pertain to all Elite coffee items.
The Elite products have been distributed in the kosher market nationally, primarily in the Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, and Florida. Additionally, products have been sold directly to customers via Amazon.com, Fresh Direct, Passover.com and all Retailer Online Sites.
No illnesses have been reported to date.
The products are being recalled as they were manufactured in a facility in which Salmonella was detected in the production line and in the liquid chocolate that is used for the production of the finished products.
The recalled products may potentially be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
A list of the recalled products are listed below:
| KayCo’s Item Number | Product Description | UPC | Size of Package |
|---|---|---|---|
| 161454 | ELITE HAZELNUT & ALMOND MILK CHOCOLATE BAR | 77245110825 | 100 g |
| 161406 | ELITE MILK CHOCOLATE BAR WITH STRAWBERRY CREAM | 815871010283 | 100 g |
| 161405 | ELITE POPPING ROCKS MILK CHOCOLATE BAR | 815871010337 | 100/90 g |
| 161429 | ELITE WHITE CHOCOLATE BAR | 815871011471 | 100 g |
| 161457 | ELITE WHITE CHOCOLATE BAR | 815871012799 | |
| 161453 | ELITE MILK CHOCOLATE WITH BERRY FLAVOR TRUFFLE CREAM BAR | 815871011105 | 100 g |
| 870958 | ELITE BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE BAR (P) SPECIAL ORDER | 7290000170077 | 100 g |
| 161401 | ELITE BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE BAR | 77245109973 | |
| 161451 | ELITE BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE BAR | 77245107214 | |
| 161400 | ELITE MILK CHOCOLATE BAR | 77245109966 | 100 g |
| 161450 | ELITE MILK CHOCOLATE BAR | 77245107146 | |
| 870957 | ELITE MILK CHOCOLATE BAR (P) SPECIAL ORDER | 7290000170053 | |
| 161409 | ELITE MILK CHOCOLATE WITH PRALINE CREAM | 815871015028 | 100 g |
| 161412 | ELITE MILK CHOCOLATE WITH HAZELNUT PIECES | 815871015035 | 100 g |
| 161413 | ELITE AERATED MILK CHOCOLATE | 815871015431 | 90 g |
| 161414 | ELITE MIX CHOCOLATE WITH WAFER ROLLS AND COCONUT | 815871015455 | 95 g |
| 161416 | ELITE MIX CHOCOLATE WITH COOKIES AND CARAMELIZED HAZELNUTS | 815871015462 | 95 g |
| 161410 | ELITE WHITE & MILK CHOCOLATE BAR WITH STRAWBERRY CREAM | 815871014502 | 100 g |
| 161404 | ELITE MILK CHOCOLATE BAR WITH LENTILS | 815871010252 | 100 g |
| 161411 | ELITE WHITE CHOCOLATE WITH COOKIE PIECES | 815871015707 | 100 g |
| 161405 | ELITE POPPING ROCKS MILK CHOCOLATE BAR | 815871010337 | 95 g |
| 161445 | ELITE EXTRA CREAMY MILK CHOCOLATE WITH VANILLA & COOKIES | 815871012294 | 95 g |
| 161446 | ELITE EXTRA CREAMY MILK CHOCOLATE WITH STRAWBERRY & COOKIES | 815871012287 | 95 g |
| 161443 | ELITE EXTRA CREAMY MILK CHOCOLATE | 815871012317 | 90g |
| 161434 | ELITE CHOCOLATE WITH STRAWBERRY CREAM | 815871012522 | 50 g |
| 161460 | ELITE COLLECTION DARK CHOCOLATE 70% | 815871011860 | 100 g |
| 161461 | ELITE COLLECTION DARK CHOCOLATE 85% | 815871011853 | |
| 161408 | ELITE BLONDY WITH HAZELNUT CREAM | 815871015011 | 100 g / 3.5 oz |
| 161407 | ELITE BLONDY WITH MILK CREAM | 815871015004 | 100 g / 3.5 oz |
| 160420 | ELITE BIG BITE PESEK ZMAN | 815871010184 | 55 g |
| 160422 | ELITE 45g PESEK ZMAN | 815871010146 | 45 g |
| 160306 | ELITE MINI PESEK ZMAN CHOCOLATE BAR | 77245108310 | 400 g |
| 160416 | ELITE PESEK ZMAN WAFER ROLL | 815871011495 | 40 g |
| 160533 | ELITE PESEK ZMAN ULTIMATE HAZELNUT CREAM | 815871015301 | 45 g |
| 160534 | ELITE PESEK ZMAN ULTIMATE COFFEE CREAM | 815871015318 | 35g |
| 160357 | ELITE MINI PESEK ZMAN | 815871015233 | 400 g |
| 160429 | ELITE PESEK ZMAN PLAY BALL | 815871015349 | 45 g |
| 160595 | ELITE BLONDY PESEK ZMAN | 815871014243 | 45 g |
| 160317 | ELITE MINI PESEK ZMAN MIX | 815871015899 | 400 g |
| 160305 | ELITE MINI MEKUPELET KP | 77245109058 | 400 g |
| 160354 | ELITE MILK CHOCOLATE LOG | 77245101755 | 25 g |
| 160355 | MINI CARAMEL | 815871011464 | 190 g |
| 160358 | ELITE MINI COCONUT CREAM CHOCOLATE BARS | 815871014977 | 200 g |
| 160359 | ELITE MINI NUTTY CREAM CHOCOLATE BARS | 815871014984 | 200 g |
| 160463 | ELITE NUTTY CREAM CHOCOLATE BAR | 815871014656 | 45 g |
| 160310 | ELITE MINI SNAP CHOCOLATE BAR | 77245108303 | 400 g |
| 160449 | ELITE SNAP BAR | 815871013307 | 45 g |
| 160522 | ELITE WHITE SNAP BAR | 815871011747 | 45 g |
| 160323 | Mini Snap no added Sugar family Bag | 815871016865 | 220 g |
| 160308 | ELITE TAAMI BAR | 815871010153 | 40 g |
| 160316 | ELITE WHITE TAAMI BAR | 815871015325 | 40 g |
| 160448 | ELITE CRUNCH MILK CHOCOLATE & CREAM BISCUIT | 815871012256 | 100 g |
| 160318 | ELITE MINI CHOCOLATE BISCUIT CRUNCH | 815871013109 | 20g |
| 160590 | ELITE SWEET @ MIDNIGHT MILK CHOCOLATE | 815871014229 | 200 g |
| 160591 | ELITE SWEET @ MIDNIGHT WHITE CHOCOLATE | 815871014236 | 200 g |
| 160412 | ELITE SHTIX WITH CREAM AND POPPING ROCKS | 815871011044 | 98 g |
| 160413 | ELITE SHTIX WITH CREAM AND LENTILS | 815871011051 | 98 g |
| 160411 | ELITE SHTIX WITH MILK CREAM – 8 PIECES | 815871011037 | 98 g |
| 160456 | ELITE SHTIX WITH MILK CREAM – 8 PC | 815871011822 | |
| 160352 | ELITE MINI MIX CHOCOLATE | 77245111303 | 400 g |
| 160311 | ELITE MINI MIX CHOCOLATE BAR | 815871012959 | 390 g |
| 160315 | ELITE ASSORTED MINI MIX – SMALL BAG | 815871012966 | 190 g |
| 160309 | ELITE TUV TAAM CHOCOLATE WAFER | 815871013383 | 400 g |
| 160439 | ELITE TORTIT MEGADIM 40GR | 815871012201 | 40 g |
| 160476 | ELITE MILK CHOCOLATE COATED RICE CAKES – KITNIYOT | 815871011884 | 70 g |
| 160319 | ELITE NIMNIMS SINGLE PACK | 815871015097 | 40 g |
| 160304 | ELITE CHOCOLATE BUTTON SHAPED CANDIES – 10 PACKS | 815871015660 | 170 g |
| 160240 | ELITE CHOCOLATE HEARTS WITH HAZELNUT CREAM | 815871012973 | 50 g |
| 160510 | ELITE MILK CHOCOLATE COINS | 746132001743 | 15 g |
| 160511 | ELITE BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE COINS | 746132001255 | 15 g |
| 160105 | ELITE STRAWBERRY FLAVORED TOFFEE – SMALL BAG | 815871010344 | 200 / 600 g |
| 160106 | ELITE STRAWBERRY FLAVORED TOFFEE – LARGE BAG | 815871010368 | |
| 160806 | ELITE SUGAR FREE BLUEBERRY MUST GUM | 815871013123 | 28 g |
| 160804 | ELITE SUGAR FREE SPEARMINT MUST GUM | 815871010122 | 28 g |
| 160717 | ELITE MUST SPEARMINT GUM – IN A CUP | 815871012041 | 66/28 g |
| 160804 | ELITE SUGAR FREE SPEARMINT MUST GUM | 815871010122 | |
| 160716 | ELITE MUST REFRESHING MINT GUM – IN A CUP | 815871012034 | 66 g |
| 160805 | ELITE SUGAR FREE LEMON MINT MUST GUM | 815871013116 | 28 g |
| 160800 | ELITE SUGAR FREE CHERRY MUST GUM | 77245110764 | 28/66 g |
| 160842 | ELITE CHERRY GUM WITH SUGAR | 815871016209 | |
| 160860 | ELITE S/F SPEARMINT MUST GUM kitniyot | 815871012768 | 28 g |
| 160843 | ELITE GRAPE GUM WITH SUGAR | 815871015998 | 66 g |
| 160840 | ELITE SPEARMINT GUM WITH SUGAR | 815871014625 | 66 g |
| 160841 | ELITE REFRESHING MINT GUM WITH SUGAR | 815871014632 | 66 g |
| 160861 | ELITE S/F CLASSIC BAZOOKA GUM kitniyot | 815871012744 | 66 g /28 g |
| 160715 | ELITE BAZOOKA BUBBLE GUM – IN A CUP | 815871011778 | |
| 160704 | ELITE TUTI FRUITY BAZOOKA GUM | 815871010504 | |
| 160702 | ELITE GRAPE BAZOOKA GUM | 815871010467 | 28 g |
| 160756 | ELITE ORIGINAL BAZOOKA GUM (BAG) | 815871012638 | 190 g |
| 160706 | ELITE FRUIT BAZOOKA GUM (BAG) | 77245102219 | |
| 160478 | ELITE GLUTEN FREE CHOCOLATE WAFERS – KITNIYOT | 815871011945 | 400g / 200 g |
| 160230 | ELITE GLUTEN FREE CHOCOLATE FLAVORED WAFERS | 815871013161 | |
| 160928 | ELITE CHOCOLATE WAFERS | 815871013147 | 200g |
| 160210 | ELITE PESEK ZMAN SPREAD 12.3OZ | 815871013079 | 350g |
| 160205 | ELITE CHOCOLATE SPREAD – DAIRY | 77245110306 | 500g |
| 160201 | ELITE CHOCOLATE SPREAD | 815871010177 | 500g |
| 160502 | CHOCOLATE COINS MILK DISPLAY BINS ELITE | 815871010382 | |
| 160504 | CHOCOLATE COINS MILK Walmart DISPLAY TRAYS ELI | 815871011167 | |
| 160402 | CHOCOLATE BAR SHIPPER MEGADIM ELITE (D) | 815871010023 | |
| 160452 | CHOCOLATE BAR SHIPPER 3.5OZ [P] ELITE | 73490154324 | |
| 160241 | CHOCOLATE HEARTS SHIPPER MEGADIM ELITE (D) | 73490154485 |
