FDA issues recall order vs batch of Lily’s Peanut Butter

The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday advised the public against buying a batch of Lily's Peanut Butter, which it found to have a high level of aflatoxin.

In Advisory No. 2014-024 dated March 31, FDA head Kenneth Hartigan-Go said his agency has issued a product recall order on the batch of the product.

Covered by the Product Recall Order was Newborn Food Products, Inc. for Lily's Peanut Butter (170 grams) under Lot No. A1 10:26, with expiry date 052314.

A copy of the order was posted on the FDA website Thursday.

But he clarified the recall involves only the product under the mentioned lot number, adding no other Lily's peanut butter variants and sizes are affected by the recall.

Hartigan-Go said the manufacturer has been ordered to "immediately recall" the particular product.

"All retail outlets carrying the product under the identified lot number are ordered to coordinate with the manufacturer regarding the recall and discontinue selling the affected product to the consumers," he said.

On the other hand, he said the public may send queries and their concerns to FDA's email address, info@fda.gov.ph.

Meanwhile, Hartigan-Go assured consumers the FDA conducts continuous monitoring and market surveillance of all peanut-based food products to ensure public health.

Last March, the FDA issued Advisory No. 2014-017 indicating Food Industries Inc. voluntarily recalled a batch of Nagaraya Cracker Nut Original Butter Flavor under Lot. No. 14019.

It said this was also due to an "unacceptable" level of aflatoxin.

According to the US National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus service, aflatoxins are toxins produced by a mold that grows in nuts, seeds, and legumes.

"Although aflatoxins are known to cause cancer in animals, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows them at low levels in nuts, seeds, and legumes because they are considered 'unavoidable contaminants,'" it said.

It added occasionally eating small amounts of aflatoxin poses little risk over a lifetime. — Joel Locsin/BM, GMA News