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Philippines: Tainted Peanut Butter Factory Suspended

by francisrivera | March 28, 2009 at 11:40 pm

415 views | 51 Recommendations | 7 comments

After the China "tainted milk" issue and the Ebola Reston virus found in Philippine swine. The Department of Health has again discovered a new health threat to Filipinos.

Salmonella.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Bureau of Food and Drugs director Leticia Gutierez on Monday personally served an indefinite suspension order on a maker of peanut butter whose products had been found tainted with salmonella.

The suspension order was received by Pedro Tianzon, president of Samuya Food Corp. in Pasay City.

Duque said the suspension shall remain in effect until Samuya complies with all the requirements to ensure its food products are safe for public consumption.

The products confirmed tainted with salmonella are "Ludys" & "Yummy", both are peanut butter products. When the factory was inspected, Department of Health found violations in behalf of the company. The factory flooring was only finished with cement, making dust a familiar site in the work place.

Enteritis Salmonella cause diarrhea which usually heals spontaneously and does not require antibiotic treatment. However, people at risk such as infants, small children, the elderly, HIV patients and those with suppressed immunity can become seriously ill (general infections).

Ludy's Coco Jam, another product of the same company was also recalled by the management itself although not included in the list found tainted with salmonella.

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sara star

at 00:38 on March 29th, 2009

Well written and presented. Thank you.

I am sticking with organic peanut butter.

francisrivera

at 04:39 on March 29th, 2009

I prefer the same. Thanks for taking time in reading and commenting Sara star. :)

Paschen

at 03:17 on March 29th, 2009

Good Post Francis. Sorry to hear that the The food safety issues are still of concern. In the US they fund that the reason for the tainted Peanut butter made in the US was due to rats in their factories.

francisrivera

at 04:38 on March 29th, 2009

Thank you for commenting Paschen!

QueensHart

at 07:19 on March 29th, 2009

Thanks. We regulate probably more than any other country and we have issues with honest rather dishonest inspectors? Sara I too buy organic.. at least we hope there are no additives and there is more quality control. I love my peanut butter.We have a butcher shop here and the place should be shut down it is so filthy. He won't hire any extra's to help keep it cleaner. The inspector probably gets his pocket lined with free meat so he will not blow the whistle. It's often about dishonesty and weak people with no conscience. Same thing goes on with all restaruants and especially fast food places. They hire anyone that can walk in and throw food around to keep the business going. I have ordered things and when I saw the nasty looking person handing me the food I would drive of and throw it away.

azzayindia

at 07:55 on March 29th, 2009

i am sticking to roasted peanuts

Wangbu (not verified)

at 06:28 on April 12th, 2009

oh no.... I just read this today, and I was just eating sandwich with Ludy's peanut butter!!! My Ludy's peanut butter here is already almost empty (I bought this peanut butter I think around a month ago).

Well, I guess the one I bought isn't contaminated with salmonella, otherwise I should have been constantly dehydrating by now, especially since I've been eating this peanut butter for almost a month already. :-(