Chairman Itzik Shmuli of the Knesset Lobby for the Promotion of Safety in Israel criticized Unilever Israel and the Health Ministry, Thursday, for their handling of the recent after-the-fact disclosure of salmonella bacteria in Telma cereals. Speaking at an urgent meeting on the matter by the Knesset State Control Committee, he said, "Unilever has taken a dangerous gamble on the health of consumers and it is unforgiveable."
Referring to the ministry's contention that all was under control, the Zionist Union lawmaker said, "The current policy, which views poisoning in a factory as a routine incident that does not require a report is delusional and dangerous." He called for a change in the law to require real-time reporting of such incidents.'