of imported fresh herbs(basil, mint and coriander) fromsouth East Asia imported Fresh inated with Salmonella(NSCFs. 2008)
fresh hearbs such and basil are not always imported from south East Asian countries, but can also be sourced from Mediterranean countries, such as Israel and cyprus, or in the summer time might be own Belgian, local production. Little information is available on the san itary quality and pathogen contamination of herbs coming from these cultivation regions. In the UK. Salmonella Senftenberg has been detected on pre-packed was grown in Israel and caused food borne illnesses in England and and wales (Pezzoli et al.,2008). Also in Denmark in 2006 a food borne outbreak of enterotoxigenic E. coli and Salmonella Anatum was associated with basil imported from Israel (pakalniskiene et al., 2009). However, no other screening results have been published resulting in a data gap for further exposure and risk assessment.