Immediate sample tests are to be conducted on peanut butter imported to Sri Lanka after many countries re-called and issued food alerts following a ‘salmonella’ bacteria outbreak, an official said yesterday.
Health Services Director General Ajith Mendis said if main peanut butter producing countries had withdrawn certain products that Sri Lanka was also importing, the products would be withdrawn from markets following random sample tests. He said reports from the US Food and Drug Administration would be studied by the Health Ministry tomorrow and the Food Advisory Committee here would meet tomorrow to take a decision on peanut butter.
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| More than 400 people became sick in US after consuming peanut butter. Pic drjean.org |
According to health officials, more than ten traders in Sri Lanka import peanut butter from the US, Canada, Britain, China and India.
A senior official of the Health Ministry’s Food Control Unit said at present only quality certificates were called for but in view of the latest reports, peanut butter samples would be tested from next week.
The Colombo Municipalitys Public Health Department is also to conduct tests on peanut butter.
“We get samples and send them to the Medical Research Insitute (MRI) for tests,” Colombo’s Chief Medical Officer Pradeep Kariyawasam said.
Salmonellosis (Salmonella) is a common contamination bacteria most commonly found in many food items around the world. It’s a bacterium that affects the stomach and intestines causing diarrhoea and constipation, headaches, stomach cramps, nausea and vomitting, fever and possibly blood in the faeces. This condition may ease in 4-7 days time.
Last week ‘salmonella’ was reported to be found in 42 states in the United States in more than 125 peanut butter-based products such as crackers, energy bars, and peanut butter cookies from more than 70 food companies. Dog treats were affected as well. At least 486 people in more than 40 states became sick and the salmonella claimed at least six lives. |
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