BFAD urges public to avoid 25 food products over Salmonella suspicion

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) on Monday urged the public to avoid eating 25 food products manufactured in the United States that are suspected of containing the Salmonella bacteria. In a radio dzBB report, the BFAD was quoted as saying 16 of the products are brands of food manufacturer Kellogg Co, namely: 1) Austin Quality Foods Cheese Cracker with Peanut Butter (all sizes) 2) Austin Quality Food Cheese and Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers (all sizes) 3) Austin Quality Food Mega Stuffed Cheese Crackers with Peanut Butter (all sizes) 4) Austin Quality Foods PB & J Cracker Sandwiches (all sizes) 5) Austin Quality Foods Super Snack Pack Sandwich Crackers 6) Austin Quality Foods Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers 7) Austin Quality Foods Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter 8) Austin Quality Foods Reduced Fat Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers 9) Austin Quality Foods Reduced Fat Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers 10) Austin Quality Foods Cookie/Cracker Pack 11) Austin Quality Foods Variety Pack 12) Keebler Cheese & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers 13) Keebler Toast & PB'n J Flavored Sandwich Crackers 14) Keebler Toast & Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers 15) Famous Amos Peanut Butter Cookies 16) Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle Peanut Butter Cookies According to the same radio report, the BFAD also discouraged the public from eating ice cream products manufactured by Perry’s Ice Cream and Hy-Vee’s bakery products with the brands: Peanut Butter Cookies Monster Cookies Peanut Butter Reese's Pieces Cookies Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Lunchbox Reese's Pieces Cookies Lunchbox Peanut Butter Cookies People Chow Party Mix, and Assorted Truffle Fudge. Kellog, Hy-Vee and Perry’s Ice Cream have all recalled the select products from local stores in the United States. The recall came a day after US health officials warned the public against consuming cookies, ice cream, cakes and other food with peanut butter, pending verification of such a contamination. BFAD head Leticia Gutierrez had already assured consumers that they have so far not seen the presence of Salmonella in locally manufactured peanut butter and peanut butter-based products. Trade Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya, also on Monday, said they expect suppliers and importers to undertake a voluntary and automatic recall of the affected products. Salmonella is the most common cause of food-borne illnesses and can trigger typhoid fever, stomach pains, cramping and diarrhea. - GMANews.TV