Recall of Peter Pan Peanut Butter due to contamination
Posted: 21 February 2007 2356 hrs

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SINGAPORE: If you have bought Peter Pan Peanut Butter, you can now get a full refund.

This is because certain batches are suspected to be tainted with Salmonella – a food-borne bacteria.

The product’s US-based manufacturer, ConAgra Foods, said buyers have to mail the lid of the peanut butter jar, together with their name and mailing address, to Naspac Marketing Private Limited, Number 2 Toh Tuck Link, #03-00, K-L Hiap Aik Building, Singapore 596225.

The peanut butter jars have already been taken off the shelves, and Singapore's Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) is conducting tests on them.

The AVA has also ordered that a baby food product be taken off the shelves.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration, Earth's Best Organic 2 Apple Peach Barley Wholesome Breakfast baby food may be contaminated with a bacteria which can cause botulism, a form of food poisoning.

AVA said parents should seek immediate medical attention for their children if symptoms such as poor feeding and lethargy occur.

Although no cases have been reported so far, the AVA said it is best to either throw the products away or return them to retailers.

Consumers can also call the AVA hotline at 1800-226-2250 for more information.

Dr Lee Peng Kow, Horizon Medical Centre, said: “Symptoms are similar to any kind of food poisoning so patients who are affected will get abdominal pains and will feel weak. They get a fever sometimes, diarrhoea, vomiting, general lethargy. All muscle tones become lost so they feel weak just like any general food poisoning caused by other food viruses.

“Generally, the symptoms are the same between adults and babies. For babies, watch out for certain things like poor sucking, drooling; may get diarrhoea, look generally less active, more lethargic. Cases of fatality are quite rare – it depends on the patients and the toxins that are absorbed into the body. The cases are mild to moderate, I would say. It's not a chronic thing. It's an acute disease, so the moment they consume food that's been contaminated with botulism toxins, the symptoms should appear quite immediately within a few days to one-to-two weeks."


- CNA/so