Peanut spread pullout delayed due to 'late' memo, group says

MANILA, Philippines - Supermarkets failed to immediately pull out banned peanut butter and spreads from their shelves due to the "late" issuance of a government memorandum for the recall, according to a group of supermarket operators. "Kahapon ng hapon after office hours na lumabas ang memo, so kaunti pa nakakaalam nito kaya di lahat na-pullout 'yan [It was late afternoon, after office hours, when the memorandum came out. So very few had time to pull out the products from their shelves]," said Steven Cua on Tuesday in an interview on dzXL radio. Cua is president of the Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association, Inc, which has 53 members. Among the group's founding members are Uniwide Sales, RFC Supermart, Cesar's Supermart, Liana's Supermart, and Welcome Supermart. Supermarket operators expect to complete the pullout on Tuesday, according to Cua. He said he had informed members of his group to pull out the items from their shelves. "Nasa supermarket na 'yan, pero tatanggalin sa shelves para walang bumili sa produkto nila [It is up to the supermarkets on how quickly they can remove the products from their shelves, so no one can buy them]," he said. Cua said the issue on refund would depend on the policy of the supermarket. "Nasa company policy 'yan. I am not sure kung ibabalik ang pera, baka palitan [It depends on the company's policy. I am not sure if all supermarkets would return the money, some will likely replace the product with another item]." The recall of peanut butter products were made after the Bureau of Food and Drug found that Samuya Food Manufacturing. Inc.'s Yummy Sweet and Creamy Peanut Spread and Ludy's Sweet and Creamy Peanut Butter products were tainted with salmonella. Samuya's operations were temporarily suspended for failing to comply with the government's food manufacturing standards. Radio dzBB earlier reported that some bakeries and sari-sari [retail] stores in Pasay City were still selling "Ludy's" peanut butter products despite the recall order. - GMANews.TV