AMMAN - The Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) on Sunday reassured the public that the Kingdom was not affected by the peanut butter-related salmonella contamination that originated in the US.
US health authorities reported that at least 470 people in 43 states had been infected by a salmonella outbreak linked to tainted peanut butter produced by Peanut Corporation of America, since September. At least six deaths are being blamed on the outbreak, according to news reports.
JFDA Director Mohammad Rawashdeh told The Jordan Times yesterday that his department had conducted checks on all imported King Nut products entering the Kingdom since suspicions of salmonella poisoning were first raised in July last year.
"We have been following up on the issue since then and have a tracking system whereby all products entering the Kingdom are checked for possible contamination," he said.
"None showed any sign of having the main source, but we will continue to exercise vigilance on these products," Rawashdeh added.
The US Centre for Disease Control and the US Food and Drug Administration are focusing their investigation on the Georgia-based Peanut Corporation of America plant, which produces peanut butter and peanut paste.
Kellogg Co., which listed Peanut Corp. as one of its suppliers, has recalled 16 products, including Austin and Keebler branded Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers, snack-size packs of Famous Amos Peanut Butter Cookies, Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle Peanut Butter Cookies and Peanut Butter-Chocolate Sandwich Crackers, according to news reports.
King Nut Company had recalled King Nut and Parnell's Pride brands of peanut butter on January 10 after salmonella was identified in one open five-pound tub.
Peanut Corp. has recalled all peanut butter produced at the Georgia plant since August 8 and all peanut paste produced since September 26. The company sells none of its peanut butter directly to consumers but distributes it to institutions, food service industries and private label food companies.
Rawashdeh said he did not expect the outbreak to spread as Kellogg Co. had taken its own precautionary measures by removing products in question from store shelves and put a hold on any inventory in its control. According to media reports, Kellogg Co. had not indicated any concerns over its products, nor has it received any consumer complaints.
The company, however, has encouraged customers and consumers not to eat these products until regulatory officials complete their investigation.
Rawashdeh said it still difficult to identify which of the more than 50 brands produced by Kellogg Co. were affected, but that the Kingdom would remain vigilant with imports.
Media reports quoted Stephen Sundlof, director of the FDA's Centre for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, as saying that there was no sufficient data as yet to provide consumers with specific information about what brands or products they should avoid.
By Dalya Dajani
© Jordan Times 2009
