Israel's Health Ministry issued an unusually urgent public warning on Wednesday evening over suspected criminal theft and resale of tahini products from Taḥinat HaNasi, or Prince Tahina. According to information it said was well-founded, products that were supposed to be destroyed under controlled conditions because of contamination may have been stolen and put back on the market.
The products had already been subject to a voluntary recall months ago after the ministry's Food Service found positive salmonella results during extensive inspections. Following the reported theft, the ministry filed an urgent complaint with Israel Police, which opened an investigation.
The ministry warned the public not to buy or consume any Prince Tahina products with expiry dates from 13/7/2027 through 6/11/2027, inclusive. The suspected items include El Amir in 450-gram, 900-gram and 17-kilogram packages; Ta'aman in 450-gram packages of pure and whole tahini; Rami Levy in 500-gram packages of pure and whole tahini and 1-kilogram pure packages; Prince in 450-gram and 17-kilogram pure packages and 450-gram whole tahini; KAPRI in 450-gram and 900-gram packages; and Geviret HaZahav in 500-gram packages.
The ministry told the public to check any packages at home and not to consume them under any circumstances. It said salmonella can cause acute intestinal illness with fever, diarrhea, nausea, repeated vomiting and severe abdominal pain, and in rare cases complications. In especially vulnerable groups, including young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems, it can lead to serious illness, hospitalization and even death. For information or reports, the public can call the ministry's Kol HaBriut hotline at 5400*.
