Itim is reporting that former Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu and other non-haredi rabbis have ruled that non-Jewish produced tehina is not kosher:
The problem cropped up during a visit by Rabbi David Lahiani of Safed to Arab-owned tehina factories in the Wadi Ara area. "I suddenly realized that the system for toasting tehina is operated by non-Jews," Lahiani said. "I also discovered that the root that is cooked in the production of halva and is essential to it is also cooked by non-Jews," Lahiani said.
Lahiani submitted a query on the matter to Eliyahu, who responded that both Sephardi and Ashkenazi Jews are forbidden to eat tehina and halva cooked by non-Jews. Several other rabbis have joined the prohibition declared by Eliyahu, whose opinion is respected among large numbers of Jews in Israel and abroad. "We are now looking at the possibility of special supervision of all products containing sesame seeds," Lahiani said.
What appears to have happened is that Rabbi Eliyahu has defined ohleh al shulkhan melakhim so broadly that even tehina is included. This means the national fast food of Israel, felafel with hummus and tehina, has been elevated to the status of caviar and standing rib roast.
Pathetic.
As always, follow the money.