Ireland Recalls Za'atar Spice Mix due to Possible Salmonella

The Irish authority ordered in April 2026 the recall of specific batches of za'atar spice mix, in 450-gram presentation, due to possible Salmonella contamination. Za'atar is a traditional mix of thyme, toasted sesame, sumac and salt, widely used in Middle Eastern cuisine, which in recent years has also been incorporated into specialty shelves of European supermarkets along with other condiments from the same region.\n\nDry spice blends share with other low-water-activity ingredients—seeds, nuts, ground spices—a characteristic that makes them an increasingly important focus for food surveillance: Salmonella does not multiply in a dry environment, but survives in it for long periods, sometimes months, without losing its infectious capacity. The toasted sesame that forms part of the za'atar blend is itself an ingredient that has already featured in Salmonella findings in other markets, adding an additional contamination pathway to that of the dry herbs that make up the blend.\n\nUnlike fresh food, a contaminated spice is rarely consumed alone: it is incorporated as a seasoning to breads, salads, meats and other dishes, making it difficult for the consumer to associate any illness with the spice as the source, and delaying detection of the epidemiological link when isolated cases occur.