Two Minnesota children under the age of 1 are reported ill in a Salmonella outbreak linked to nationally recalled Krinos brand tahini sesame paste, according to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).
The illnesses have been associated with a small cluster of Salmonella Mbandaka illnesses in other states, MDH spokesman Doug Schultz told Food Safety News. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now investigating illnesses potentially connected to the outbreak, said CDC spokeswoman Lola Russell.
Schultz said he did not believe the children were related to each other. Neither child was hospitalized and they are both recovering.
The tahini, distributed to retailers nationwide, has been voluntarily recalled since April 28 for contamination of Salmonella Montevideo and Mbandaka. Following an expansion on May 9, the recall now includes tahini products with expiration dates ranging from Jan. 1, 2014 to March 15, 2015.
The product is sold in 1 LB glass jars, 2 LB glass jars and in 40 LB plastic pails. The UPC codes for those products are:
1 LB jar, 0-75013-28500-3
2 LB jar, 0-75013-28510-2
40 LB pail, 0-75013-04018-3
According to the company, the recalled lots have a code stamped on the lid dated between “EXP JAN 01 – 2014 up to and including EXP JUN 08 – 2014” and “EXP OCT 16 – 2014 up to and including EXP MAR 15 – 2015.”