The HUGE recall: Important info

In the last few days, you might have heard that the Strauss-Elite company shut down their chocolate production facility due to a salmonella issue.

They have been forced to recall HUGE amounts of chocolate, as well as other products that contain chocolate. Other companies, that source their chocolate from Strauss-Elite, have also issued recalls.

There's a lot of confusion out there about which products have been recalled. So here's the latest scoop:

The recall includes:

ALL Elite Chocolate Products*

Elite Cakes*

Elite Wafers*

Energy brand snack bars*

Energy brand chocolate covered rice cakes*

Elite Toffees*

Elite Gum*

*ALL expiration dates that are currently available)

Milky puddings with candy-coated chocolate topping exp. dates 26/4/22, 3/5/22, 11/5/22, 12/5/22, 16/5/22

Unilever products:

Magnum Duet exp. dates 1.9.23 - 6.10.23

Magnum White exp. dates 28.8.23 - 13.9.23

Magnum Chocolate exp. dates 29.8.23 - 19.9.23

Magnum Almond exp. dates 7-8.9.23

Magnum White Strawberry exp. dates 31.8.23 - 21.9.23

Magnum White Cone exp. date 7.4.23

Magnum Chocolate Cone exp. date 5-6.4.23

Magnum Mini Almond exp. dates 15.6.23 - 30.6.23

Magnum Mini Chocolate/Vanilla exp. dates 13.4.23 - 14.4.23

Magnum Mini Duet exp. date 15.9.23

Magnum Mini White exp. date 4.9.23

Magnum Mini Dark Chocolate exp. date 18.9.23

Vanilla Mini Ice Cream Treats exp. dates 28.8.23 - 22.9.23

Strawberry Mini Ice Cream Treats exp. dates 3.10.23 - 6.10.23

Bomba Ice Cream Bars exp. date 19.9.23

Mini Pesek Zman Ice Cream Multi-pack exp. dates 15.8.23 - 17.8.23

Shokobo Ice Cream Bars exp. dates 15.8.23 - 27.9.23

Pistachio Goodies exp. dates 3.10.23 - 4.10.23

Cremissimo Vanilla Chip Ice Cream exp. date 22.8.23

Cremissimo White Chocolate and Strawberry Ice Cream exp. date 1.9.23

Cremissimo White Chocolate Pistachio Ice Cream exp. date 8.9.23

Cremissimo Triple Chocolate Ice Cream exp. date 31.8.23

Cremissimo Chocolate Chip Ice Cream exp. dates 29.8.23 - 30.8.23

Solero Coconut Bar exp. dates 14.9.23 - 29.9.23

Mix Round Ice Cream Treat exp. dates 6-7.9.23

To get a refund for the Unilever products, call 1800-780-780 OR WhatsApp 053-7807800 or fill out their customer service form at sherut-unilever.co.il

To request a refund for the recalled products Elite you've purchased but cannot eat, fill out the form here: https://www.strauss-group.co.il/cs_form/elite/#form_all_data_wrap or call *6860 or send a message via WhatsApp to 052-759-9752

If you are reading this from another country, you will likely be able to return your product to the store you purchased it at, or reach out to the importer listed on the label.

Hope that helps make sense of things! And I hope you didn't get sick from tainted chocolate.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Bars (Cookies)

 This post is for the people who felt my Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Squares weren't quite cookies. Admittedly, they are a bit mushy. I happen to love eating them, and making them is SOOO easy!

But someone told me they preferred a more traditional cookie texture, so here's one that will fit the bill.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Bars (Cookies)

Ingredients:

3 Tbp ground flaxseed, plus 2/3 cup warm water OR 2 eggs

1 1/4 cups sugar (plain sugar works. brown sugar is better)

3/4 cup peanut butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

1.5 cups whole grain flour (wheat or spelt both work)

2/3 cup oats (the flake kind, not steel cut)

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 tsp baking soda

6 oz chocolate chips (dairy or non-dairy, whichever works for you)

(OPTIONAL: 100g of chocolate - dairy or non-dairy, whichever works for you. Save this for topping the cookies. I break up a bar of "cow chocolate".)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 190C/375F

First, mix the flaxseed with water in a large mixing bowl. Let sit for about 10 minutes before you continue. OR beat the eggs.

Then add the rest of the ingredients (except the chocolate chips and chocolate pieces, save those for the end) and mix well.

Fold in the chocolate chips.

Spread the mixture out on a large cookie sheet, lined with parchment paper.

Bake for 15-17 minutes MAX. Take them out, even if you don't think they are done.

OPTIONAL: While they're still hot, dot the top with pieces of chocolate and let that sit for a few minutes till melted enough to spread around. Spread the chocolate over the top with a heat-proof spatula. Cut into squares before the chocolate fully cools.

Cool further before serving. There won't be any leftovers, so don't worry about storing them. If there happen to be leftovers, I wrap the whole pan well in plastic wrap.

Food Recall (Chocolate Products)

Leiman Schlussel Ltd announced a recall of the following products, due to an apparent infestation with meal moths (also known as pantry moths).

Chokoleta Dark Chocolate

Choketa Dark Chocolate 60%

Choketa Dark Chocolate

Choketa Milk Chocolate

Choketa Milk Chocolate with Nut Pieces

Choketa Milk Chocolate with Almond Pieces

All of these products are imported, and are produced by Ibercacao, from Spain

The recall includes all of the above varieties (sold separately AND in multi-packs) with expiration dates up to and including 6.2.2019

If you have questions about this recall, please call Leiman Schlussel customer service, at 08-932-4400

You may have to provide batch #s, etc when you call, and you may have to insist that they send you a coupon for a replacement. I'm hearing reports that the customer service department is still early on in the learning curve...

p.s. if you have pantry moths, deal with them the non-toxic way (affiliate link)! 

Mislabled Chocolate (Israel)

The Ministry of Health and Elite announced a recall of the following product:

Company: Elite Candy Company

Product Name: Cream Filled Milk Chocolate Bar (Tablat Shokolad B'Milui Krem Chalav) --- mislabeled!

Barcode: 7290003903955, marked with times between 15:00 and 17:00

Use by Date: 1.05.2018

Some of these bars contain a different chocolate bar inside - one that contains nuts (it is actually a Nougat Filled Milk Chocolate Bar). The mislabeled packages say "may contain traces of nuts", but the bars inside actually contain nut ingredients. (The label says cream filled and it is actually filled with NUT-based NOUGAT!)

If you have a nut allergy, this chocolate bar may NOT safe for you to eat if it is from the batch specified above, even if you can normally eat chocolate that says "may contain traces of nuts".

Consumers who have purchased bars from the recalled batch are asked to call Elite Customer Service at 1-800-777-777

Recall to Correct Allergen Warning (Chocolates)

Ornat Food Industries has announced that the following products should contain a MILK allergen warning, and do not:

Chunky dark chocolate 68% cocoa solids, with walnuts and raisins (marked kosher pareve)

Dark Chocolate Squares with Ground Coffee Beans (marked kosher dairy) 

Dark Chocolate Squares with Ground Cocoa Beans (marked kosher dairy)

This affects all of the chocolates listed above from all dates up to and including 20.12.17

The company is removing the products from store shelves. Anyone with a milk allergy who bought these products should call the company at 09-891-3399 with questions.

Recall - Chocolates

Ornat Industries announced a recall of the following products, due to tests showing possible contamination with dairy:

Chunky - Dark chocolate (68% cacao solids) with almonds and cranberries (pareve)

Chunky - Dark chocolate (68% cacao solids) with walnuts and raisins (pareve)

Skinny Dark Chocolate Cherry - Dark Chocolate sheets with cherries and roasted cacao nibs

Rollers Kisses - Dark Chocolate Kisses with dried fruit and nuts

ALL of these products with ALL expiration dates up to and including 20.6.17 are being recalled.

The products are NOT labeled as containing any dairy nor do they say "may contain dairy", but tests show they contain dairy. Anyone with a dairy allergy or sensitivity is warned NOT to eat these products.

If you have questions or want to return a product you purchased, please call customer service at 09-891-3399

Milk Allergen Warning and Recall!

Meshukladis Chocolates & Candies warns the public that the following product MAY CONTAIN Milk, and should not be eaten by anyone with a milk allergy:

message and wrappers may vary

DelConte Pareve Chocolate Pralines (labeled Neopolitans in Hebrew), Bittersweet Chocolate, sold in 500g bags or by weight, with production code L6012, and use by date 31.07.2017
The bags are labeled with barcode 8002429001745

The chocolates are safe to eat, UNLESS one has a milk allergy.

To ensure public safety, the product is being recalled.

If you have purchased this product, you are invited to call the company at 08-933-1080 or make contact via their website. 

Please share this post with anyone who may be affected by this recall!

Another Recall!

Strauss - Elite announced a recall of certain cakes, due to the presence of an undesirable taste from the yeast used in the cake.

The affected products are considered safe to eat, but may not taste right.

The recalled products are:

Chocolate Rolade, 350g, barcode 7290008754613, with a use by date of 3/12/2016

To arrange for your refund/exchange, please call customer service at 1-800-777-777

WARNING: undisclosed allergens!

Warning: The allergen statement was not included in the Hebrew label on the following products:

picture for illustrative purposes ONLY

merci brand chocolate bars -

Milk chocolate with hazelnuts and almonds, 100 gram bars, with use by date 1/10/2016

Fine Dark Chocolate, 100 gram bars, with use by date 1/12/2016

Fine Milk Chocolate, 100 gram bars, with use by dates between 1/10/2016 and 1/11/2016

Fine Milk chocolate filled with hazelnut cream (43%), 112 gram bars, with use by dates between 1/10/2016 and 1/12/2016

Fine Dark chocolate filled with almond praline, 112 gram bars, with use by date 1/10/2016

These products should with an allergen warning, and they are not.

Anyone with a PEANUT, ALMOND, or other TREE NUT allergy should NOT eat these chocolates! 

Please help spread the word so no one with an allergy eats these chocolates. Thanks!

Recall!

Mars, Inc has announced a multi-national recall of a number of chocolate bars. Pieces of plastic were found in Mars Bars, Milky Way Bars, Snickers Bars, Celebration Bars, and "Mini Mix", posing a serious dangers. The chocolate bars were produced in Holland earlier this year.
As of right now, the following products are being removed from store shelves:


Snickers Mini, 187gram bars, with a best buy date of 11/12/16

If you have purchased these chocolate bars, please return them to the store where purchased, or call the customer service number on the package for more information.

It's possible that some of you may have chocolate from Europe that was brought in privately (including items that may have been bought at Duty Free Shops). The full recall list includes SNICKERS^®, MARS^®, MILKY WAY^® and CELEBRATIONS^® products produced in the Netherlands factory during the production period between December 5, 2015 - January 18, 2016.

Dessert When I've Run out of Time!

Sometimes, especially on short Fridays, I discover it's 20 minutes till Shabbat and I haven't made dessert!

Ok, it's not the end of the world, there's always fruit.

BUT if I can make the whole family happy and pull something together very quickly, why not?

Here's what I need to do this:

2 bars of chocolate
1/2 cup peanut butter (optional)
1.5 cups crisp rice cereal (like rice krispies or B&D pitzputzei orez)
sea salt (optional)

First, melt 2 bars of chocolate (I use  double boiler but you can carefully use a microwave, if you prefer).
Then mix in 1/2 peanut butter. Stir with a wooden spoon till smooth. 
Add in 1.5 cups crispy rice cereal . Mix, then spread out in a large pan. 
Sprinkle sea salt over the top if you like. cool (in fridge or freezer) then cut into squares.

THAT'S IT! You're done, and dessert took no time at all!
My family is always happy with this simple treat!

(You can use crushed pretzel or corn flakes instead of the rice cereal, or combined with the rice cereal for an interesting and delicious twist!)

Chocolate Bread Recipe

This recipe is being published at Joy of Kosher and here at Frugal and Kosher, at the same time.

Be sure to check out my guest blogs at Joy of Kosher too!

I was thinking about Purim, and while I love giving real food for mishloach manot, I like to keep it fun too. And then we discovered...

Chocolate Bread (whole wheat variation)

Note: traditional Italian chocolate bread is made with a sourdough starter. This recipe is for those of us who don’t keep sourdough starter on hand. 

This recipe makes 6 mini-loaves or 3 regular size loaves.

Ingredients:

3 ¼ cups warm water

2 tsp sugar

3 tsp dry yeast

9 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup sugar

1 tsp salt

2/3 cup cocoa

1/3 cup oil + more for coating the bowl

½ bar dark chocolate, crushed with a hammer or the end of a wooden rolling pin

Mix together the first three ingredients, and allow the yeast to proof for about 10 minutes. (I know, lots of people say you don’t have to do this, but I always proof my yeast, that way I’m sure it is alive!)

Mix dry ingredients (flour, sugar, salt, and cocoa) in a large bowl, and make a well in the center. Pour the oil and the yeast mixture into the well, and then combine everything. You can start with a wooden spoon, but eventually you will need to use your hands (unless of course, you have a powerful enough mixer to handle bread dough). Knead dough for about 10 min. Coat the dough with oil and cover with a tea towel to rise.

Allow to rise until doubled in size. After it has risen, punch down the dough, and sprinkle chocolate bits evenly over the dough. Use a knife to cut the dough into 6 approximately equal pieces, if making mini loaves (3 pieces if making regular size loaves). Work the chocolate into each piece of dough, shape into circles and place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper (you may need two, I did). Cover with a tea towel, and allow to rise for another half hour.

Preheat your oven to 350 F.

When your loaves have risen, bake for about 30 minutes. Watch them! Chocolate burns quickly if left in too long.

Allow to cool before slicing.

Tastes great with butter. Or hazelnut spread.

It’s actually pretty addictive. Don’t get me started...

Let me know if you try this!

Mocha Monkey Bread

 Dough:

3 cups whole wheat flour
1 T. baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 c. oil
1 c. milk

Mix together and knead for 2 min. The dough should be fairly well formed.

Topping:

3 T. instant coffee
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. cocoa powder
2 T. oil

mix the topping together. It will be crumbly

Form balls of dough and place 1 layer of them in a lightly greased baking pan. Spread 1/2 the to topping over the dough. Layer more balls of dough on top and spread the rest of the topping over this layer.

Bake at 375 F (my toaster oven is Fahrenheit, sorry!) for about 30 min.

I had some of it with my coffee before I took the picture, so you can't see it in it's full glory (also, I made a super small batch, as I just used the leftover dough from another food experiment. I have to say, the monkey bread was the more successful of the two!) If you want the mocha to be more runny and less crumbly, I suggest doubling or tripling the oil. I wanted to cut back on the oil, though. It was still really yummy.