BFAD assures safe products

published January 22, 2008 in BusinessWorld

AMID THE scare over contaminated imported peanut butter, the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) yesterday said local counterpart products are safe to eat.

"Local peanut butter is safe because we have asked manufacturers to disclose their sources of peanut-based products and none of them source from the United States," said BFAD Director Leticia Barbara B. Gutierrez in a chance interview on the sidelines of the Medicines Transparency Alliance forum.

She added none of the products recalled by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are in the list of BFAD imports.

On Monday, the BFAD released an advisory on the consumption and purchase of peanut butter and other peanut-based products based on reports of product recalls by the FDA.

Traces of salmonella were found in several products from the Peanut Corporation of America. The FDA has recalled products from several companies.

Salmonella infection has affected around 400 Americans, but there have been no reported deaths.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health’s regional office in Eastern Visayas has deployed food and drug regulation officers to monitor imported peanut butter products sold in stores.

Edgardo Gonzaga, regional director, told BusinessWorld: "It is highly recommended that the public should not buy and eat products that have been recalled and throw them away in a manner that prevents others from eating them."

Brands that were withdrawn from the US market were King Nut peanut butter with lot codes beginning with "8"; Peanut Corporation of America peanut butter and peanut paste products; Austin and Keebler peanut butter sandwich crackers and selected snack-size packs of Famous Amos peanut butter cookies and Keebler soft batch home-style peanut cookies of Kellogg Co.; some Hy-Vee, Inc. products; selected products of Perry’s Ice Cream; and candies containing peanut butter of South Blend Chocolate Company.

"In Region 8, we have to wait for reports from food and drug regulation officers if these products are available in the local market," Mr. Gonzaga said. — Emilia Narni J. David and Sarwell Q. Meniano