Pistachio products recall now complete - BFAD

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) on Wednesday announced that pistachio products have been successfully pulled out of supermarkets in the country amid warnings of possible salmonella contamination. In an interview with GMA News' Arnold Clavio over Unang Hirit, BFAD director Leticia Gutierrez said their inspection of supermarkets showed that pistachio nuts and pistachio-containing products have been recalled as ordered. "Umikot nga kami at wala na kaming nakitang mga produktong may pistachio nuts o pistachio-containing product. Pinull out na ng supermarkets [We made the rounds and we saw that there are no more pistachio nuts or pistachio-containing products. Supermarkets have pulled them out]," Gutierrez said. On April 1, the BFAD ordered the recall of all US-made pistachio products after receiving an official transmittal from the US Food and Drug Administration that one million pounds of pistachios from a California-based company could be tainted with the disease-causing bacteria. Gutierrez, however, said her agency will still evaluate the study of one ice cream company which recently declared that its pistachio-containing ice cream flavors are not tainted with salmonella. "We appreciate what they have done and all the necessary steps they have taken," said Gutierrez, but maintained that the firm's announcement is still up for validation. Gutierrez had earlier suggested that ice cream makers suspend production of pistachio-flavored ice cream for the meantime while the BFAD is still testing food products. But she clarified that the BFAD is not banning pistachio ice cream, especially since the product is very popular during summer. - GMANews.TV