SABRA IS GIVING HUMMUS A BAD NAME!

What's going on with Sabra Hummus? 

It seems we didn't have time to forget about their last health problems and we're already bombarded with a new one.

The problem isn't just with one companies hummus - the problem is that Sabra - co owned by Pepsi is perhaps the largest supermarket distributor of Hummus.  They are everywhere. They are literally the face of Hummus in the US. 

As news keeps coming out about their products being dangerous to human consumption for various diseases - it will slowly create an illusion as if Hummus itself is dangerous and perhaps that will hurt the entire image of hummus as being something healthy.

I think it's really sad Sabra is having so much troubles that will hurt not just supermarket hummus - but hummus in general.

People will ask more questions about why Hummus keeps getting all these sicknesses.

I hope the people at Pepsi and Sabra aren't thinking to themselves lets just pump Sabra Hummus with more preservatives that will kill what's left of healthy products in their Hummus cause that's not the solution. 

I have eaten at so many restaurants hummus with no preservatives that had no listeria. 

The solution is to have more quality control during manufacturing.

I hope they fire top level executives cause it's obvious someone's not doing their job at that company.

Every major news outlet has written about it - from foxnews to CNBC.COM - so everyone is hearing how dangerous Sabra Hummus is once again.

Anyways, below is the article about the listeria fear and which products are in danger of being infected:

THE  FDA WEBSITE WITH FULL DETAILS

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.  Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.  The company is issuing this recall out of an abundance of caution.

Consumers with any product with a “Best Before” date up through January 23, 2017 are urged to discard it. Consumers can find code and “Best Before” date on the lid of each package.

UPC	SKU	Item
040822014700	300051	Sabra Hummus Caramelized Onion 10OZ
040822000017	300066	Sabra Hummus Classic 7OZ
040822011143	300067	Sabra Hummus Classic 10OZ
040822017497	300070	Sabra Hummus Classic 17OZ
040822014687	300074	Sabra Hummus Classic 30OZ
040822431156	300076	Sabra Hummus Classic 5LB – 6ct
040822011112	300079	Sabra Hummus Classic 2OZ – 48ct: 3 x (16 x 2oz)
040822011952	300080	Sabra Hummus Classic with pretzels 4.56OZ
040822011235	300094	Sabra Hummus Garlic 7OZ
040822011242	300095	Sabra Hummus Garlic 10OZ
040822017510	300097	Sabra Hummus Garlic 17OZ
040822012256	300099	Sabra Hummus Garlic 32OZ
040822301121	300100	Sabra Hummus Garlic 30OZ
040822011990	300104	Sabra Hummus Garlic with pretzels 4.56OZ
040822011921	300106	Sabra Hummus Jalapeno 10OZ
040822011341	300117	Sabra Hummus Olive 10OZ
040822011747	300132	Sabra Hummus Pine Nut 10OZ
040822127530	300134	Sabra Hummus Pine Nut 7OZ
040822990011	300136	Sabra Hummus Pine Nut 17OZ
040822012157	300139	Sabra Hummus Pine Nut 32OZ
040822012430	300142	Sabra Hummus Red Pepper 7OZ
040822011549	300143	Sabra Hummus Red Pepper 10OZ
040822017503	300146	Sabra Hummus Red Pepper 17OZ
040822328647	300148	Sabra Hummus Red Pepper 32OZ
040822301114	300150	Sabra Hummus Red Pepper 30OZ
040822434553	300151	Sabra Hummus Red Pepper 5LB – 6ct
040822011969	300153	Sabra Hummus Red Pepper with pretzels 4.56OZ
040822011433	300158	Sabra Hummus Supremely Spicy 7OZ
040822011440	300159	Sabra Hummus Supremely Spicy 10OZ
040822017558	300161	Sabra Hummus Supremely Spicy 17OZ
040822027540	300164	Sabra Hummus Spinach & Artichoke 10OZ
040822014731	300166	Sabra Hummus Sun Dried Tomato 10OZ
040822027700	300266	Sabra Hummus Spinach & Artichoke 32OZ
040822027588	300298	Sabra Hummus Spinach & Artichoke 17OZ
040822990011	300501	Sabra Hummus Pine Nut 17OZ – 6ct
040822017503	300502	Sabra Hummus Red Pepper 17OZ – 6ct
040822020114	300593	Sabra Hummus Basil-Pesto 10OZ
040822330466	300736	Sabra Hummus Tuscan Herb Garden 32OZ
040822342049	301216	Sabra Hummus Classic 32OZ
040822342131	301271	Sabra Hummus Classic with pretzels 4.56OZ – 8ct
040822342209	301283	Sabra Hummus Garlic 23.5OZ
040822017497	301290	Sabra Hummus Classic 17OZ
040822342506	301430	Sabra Hummus Bold & Spicy with tortilla chips 4.56OZ
040822017510	301480	Sabra Hummus Garlic 17OZ – 6ct
040822342728	301481	Sabra Hummus Classic 2OZ – 6 x 2oz (12 x 6pks)
040822011648	301483	Sabra Hummus Lemon 10OZ
040822342735	301484	Sabra Hummus Red Pepper 2OZ – 6 x 2oz (12 x 6pks)
040822330381	301485	Sabra Hummus Tuscan Herb Garden 17OZ
040822010078	301511	Sabra Hummus Classic 2OZ  – 16 x 2oz – 12 ct
040822010047	301512	Sabra Hummus Classic 2OZ – 12 x 2oz – 12 ct
040822342988	301566	Sabra Hummus SF Rosemary/Sea Salt 10OZ
040822343145	301585	Sabra Spreads Spicy Chili 8.5OZ – 8ct
040822343138	301586	Sabra Spreads Garlic Herb 8.5OZ – 8ct
040822343121	301587	Sabra Spreads Honey Mustard 8.5OZ – 8ct
040822343114	301588	Sabra Spreads Salt & Pepper 8.5OZ – 8ct
040822343671	301640	Sabra Hummus Taco 10OZ
040822344043	301705	Sabra Hummus 3 Pepper Chili 10OZ

No other Sabra products are affected. In particular, Sabra products not included in the recall are: Sabra Organic Hummus, Sabra Salsa, Sabra Guacamole and Sabra Greek Yogurt Dips.

Consumers can contact Sabra Consumer Relations at 1-866-265-6761 for additional information from 9:00 am to 8:00 PM eastern time. For product reimbursement, consumers can contact www.sabrahummusrecall.com. Full list of impacted product is below. The company has subsequently taken steps to correct this matter.

The recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Two more restaurants to avoid in Los Angeles

In the last few month's I've eaten in mostly horrible LA restaurants and so preferred not to write any new review cause it annoyed me.


PITA BAR AND GRILL
Fairfax Avenue. Fairfax district. Los Angeles. California


A new restaurant that opened strong and got a half decent review in this blog. They had a special deal where one could get a pita with Falafel and a soft drink for $5.
The first 3 month were a dream. Fresh Falafel, Fresh pita and pretty good hummus.
But all that changed.
No more special deal.
Now for $5 one gets onlythe Pita without the soft drink.
The Pita's are no longer fresh - but a day old.
The amount of Falafel's has been reduced by about 30% in each Pita.
I gave them a second chance before writing this review and the same thing happened so I guess it's no longer just a one time thing.

Sadly PITA BAR and Grill have joined my AVOID LIST


HABAYIT RESTAURANT
Phone 310-479-5444
11921 West Pico Blvd
LA CA 90064

Another new place I tasted was HABAYIT RESTAURANT.
They're pretty good.
The Hummus isn't Lebanese but rather a Polish Israeli take on the classic dish - but for an Israeli Glatt Kosher restaurant it's pretty good.
But the prices of everything else is so ridiculous that I can only give it an AVOID rating.
I hate it when restaurants that have a GLATT KOSHER rating believe they can overprice cause they think that religous Jews are dumb.
But the place was full for lunch so I don't know what to say.
Here's the lunch menu they gave me:
Entrees:
Meetballs $15.95
Kebab $15.95
Schnitzel $15.95

Falafel Plate (with 2 pitas) $10.95
Shakshuka $9.95

Falafel Sandwhich $7.95
Hummus Sandwich $6.45

Hummus plate $6.45

Salads to go (Per Lb) $9.95

The place looks like a super cheap diner. It's not located in the easiest to find place. It's mainly looks like a place to grab a quick and fast lunch.
but these prices puts a meal with a Hummus opener plate and a soft drink and a coffee at $25-$30 per person. FOR LUNCH.
So I don't know who's their clientele.
It's neither for those wanting a fast and cheap lunch - cause it's too expensive.
The place looks too cheap for a business lunch - so it's not a place to invite a person to discuss business.

I guess it's a place for Israeli's wanting a Glatt Kosher place and a little bit of Hummus but nothing else.

Their minimum delivery policy is $40 so they're not fit for a single person craving a fast one either.

A pity- the place could have been so much more successful if they would lower prices and have a real lunch menu with decent pricing.

Anyways, for now it's an avoid.
Big time!

Los Angeles Hummus: UPDATE: TOP TEN PLACES TO AVOID IN LA,

THE AWFUL LIST:

Seems like there's a new trend in LA. Middle eastern joints have hiked their prices to filthy greedy territory. Who would have thought that going to a run down, noisy, dirty and mediocre tasting middle eastern diner could cost as much as going out to an expensive high class steak house in Beverly Hills.
I made the decision to avoid going to these places. I believe that only if people avoid them will they either have to lower their prices or eventually close- making the point that Hummus joints cannot treat their clients like total suckers!

AWFUL Aroma: THE WINNER OF THE DISGUSTING LIST

Aroma cafe,the awful Israeli diner was one of the first to realize they could over charge for Israeli food. They realized some Israeli's are suckers and they'll pay extra to be able to sit among other Israeli's in an Israeli hangout in the Valley.

But now there are a lot of additional places that have replicated this model.

AWFUL NANA: RUNNER UP TO MOST DISGUSTING LIST TOPPER

NANA in the PICO ROBERTSON area, is another one of the places I strongly recommend to avoid. It's simply awful.
I hated the food.
I hated the service.
I hated everything about this place.
and the price ... OUCH.
It's for suckers.
Or as Israeli's call them: FRYARS.
But for some reason, it seems that there are a lot in the Pico Robertson area and it's a shame!

AWFUL ITZIK HAGADOL: ANOTHER WINNER IN THE TOP FIVE DISGUSTING LIST

Then there's Itzik Hagadol.
Gadol means large in Hebrew.
The only thing that's large in this restaurant is the bill you'll get for extremely mediocre food and Hummus that's just as bland.

CAYENNE AND ZAHLE: ET TU BRUTUS?

The sad thing is that our Lebanese friends have learned from Israeli restaurants and immitating them. Take two restaurants I used to love : CAYENNE on Beverly Blvd and Zahle in North Hollywood. Their pricing is disgusting. For now, my recommendation is AVOID!
Perhaps the hardest for me is to write a negative review about Zahle. Even thought they've hiked their prices- their Hummus is still superb.
That said: sadly, I am joining those who won't return there in the near future.

Yesterday I went to Zahle craving a Falafel plate, a small Hummus and a salad.
Very basic plate? Right?
Wrong.
They stopped having these plates and each one must be ordered separately.
They have a new super expensive menu.
A plate with 4 Falafel balls now cost $7.00

I paid for my very basic Falafel meal $25 (Without drinking anything, without desert, cofee, sides, etc...)

For a basic falafel meal with only 4 Falafels.
I left feeling angry, cheated and ripped of.(Not to mention hungry)

So for now my recommendation is avoid even this worthy place. Hopefully their prices will come down .

I looked at the menu and realized that a meat dish and some sides would bring the price of a meal easily to $50 per person.
Why would anyone waste 30 minutes driving to this place that's not in most people's way - just to sit in a cheap restaurant and eat super expensive basic food and pay so much is beyond me.

Sad that the recession has caused both Israeli's and Arabs in Los Angeles to become super greedy.

But as so many restaurants are closing all over the city- I'm sure new ones will soon open and hopefully some of them will be middle eastern with normal pricing.