Firm pulls out tainted peanut butter products

MANILA, Philippines – A local peanut butter manufacturer on Monday pulled out not just two but all batches of their products that were found positive for salmonella. The decision came after the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) announced that two batches (02-230905 and 02-20906) of Samuya Food Corp’s Ludy’s Peanut Butter products contained traces of the disease-causing organism. Gonzalo Tianzon, Samuya vice president for corporate communications, said his company had decided to take out all batches of Ludy’s Peanut Butter Sweet and Creamy and Ludy's Peanut Butter Spread from the shelves to quell public fear that its products were contaminated with salmonella. Salmonella is the most common cause of food-borne illnesses and can trigger typhoid fever, stomach pains, cramping and diarrhea. The bacteria, however, is supposed to be killed off in the roasting process of the peanuts. “Immediately, ang ginawa namin i-pullout lang hindi lang ang dalawang specific batches kundi ang buong produkto nationwide [We immediately ordered a nationwide pullout not only of the two specific batches but of all batches]," Tianzon said. Tianzon said that while the recall would trigger revenue losses, his company must heed the government's order. “Malaking halaga, napakalaki dahil malaking epekto sa amin ang pagpu-pull out na ito [This pullout will have a great effect on our company]," Tianzon said. Samuya has passed every inspection done by the BFAD on its manufacturing plant in Lakandula Street in Hidalgo Village, in Pasay City, according to Tianzon. He said that he could not immediately ascertain how salmonella could have developed in some batches of their peanut butter product line. “May cases na hindi natin inaasahan gaya ng pag-tetest ng positive for salmonella [Unexpected cases of salmonella contamination like this really happen]," Tianzon said. Samuya has not yet received any consumer complaint related to a salmonella infection, according to Tianzon. Own probe The discovery of salmonella not only in its Ludy’s products but also in its Yummy brand has prompted Samuya Food Corp to carry out its own internal probe on the matter. “We’re expecting this [probe to be completed] within the week or 7 to 10 days, para na rin makita namin kaagad ang pinagmulan ng problema," Tianzon said. The company imports its peanut butter ingredients from China and India. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III went to the food company’s office in Pasay City on Monday afternoon to issue the suspension order. The suspension came almost two weeks after BFAD health experts confirmed salmonella contamination in two other batches of Samuya products. These included Yummy Sweet and Creamy Peanut Spread 490 grams (Batch 11240810), with expiry date of May 24, 2009; and Yummy Sweet and Creamy Peanut Spread 224 grams (Batch 3040905), with expiry date Sept. 4, 2009. After the BFAD's announcement, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte ordered the pullout of all brands of peanut butter from city markets. Test continues The BFAD was prompted to subject several local peanut butter brands under laboratory testing after the United States government in mid-January warned the public against consuming cookies, ice cream, cakes, and other food with peanut butter US officials said at the time that 25 food products from companies like Kellogg Co, Perry's Ice Cream, Hy-Vee Bakery could be tainted with salmonella. The warning in turn eventually resulted in a 125-product recall of US manufacturers of peanut butter and peanut-butter-based food, pending further government testing. The BFAD continues to test peanut butter products from other local manufacturers, which the agency refused to identify. - GMANews.TV