Helva products contaminated

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is advising consumers to avoid batches of certain specific helva products following tests that have found them to be contaminated with the food bug salmonella. Helva, also known as halva, is a Middle-Eastern/Mediterranean sweet confectionery made of crushed sesame seeds and syrup and comes in various flavours. It is sold in tubs and blocks. Over 150 samples of helva products in the UK have recently been tested. The majority of samples taken did not contain salmonella. However, of those that have tested positive, none were on sale in the major retail chains. One sample of a similar product, tahini, also tested positive. The affected products are imported from Turkey and are believed to be sold mostly in shops that sell Turkish and Middle-Eastern/Mediterranean foods. The presence of salmonella has also been reported in Australia, Sweden and Germany in these products and they may also be on sale in this country. The Agency is taking action to ensure that the affected batches of the products are removed from sale and that consumers do not eat them. There is a risk of food poisoning if these specific products are consumed. Food Standards Agency​ Deputy Chief Executive and Head of Food Safety Dr Jon Bell said: " We want to ensure that consumers are not exposed to the risk of salmonella poisoning from these products. It is important that they are taken off the shelves and not eaten. This only appears to be a problem relating to particular helva products made between September 2000 and January 2001. Since the shelf life of these products is at least a year, they are still likely to be in the shops or in people's homes. " We are particularly concerned to ensure that this message reaches Turkish and other communities where consumption of helva is most common. They will be most at risk from the bug, although anyone who eats helva could be affected."​