The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) received a notification from the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN), about products contaminated with salmonella. SFDA issued a warning through its food center and consumer crisis management center.

Contaminated products come from the Turkish GESAS food company and include eatables such as tahina, halawa, cocoa and vanilla.

These products are distributed in many countries including Saudi Arabia.

Experts believe that most people infected with salmonella will develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after getting infected. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most persons recover without treatment. In some cases the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized.

The SFDA called on consumers to dispose of such products immediately, and demanded their withdrawal from the market.