The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in Negros Oriental has reported that at least three major grocery stores in the provincial capital, Dumaguete, did not carry the batch of Nagaraya Cracker nuts that were recalled for fungal toxin content.
Vicky Sibala, lone FDA employee of the province, on Wednesday disclosed that upon inspection, not a single pack of the contaminated Nagaraya Cracker Nut original butter flavor (160 grams) was found on the shelves of the grocery stores of Lee Super Plaza, Robinson’s, and Cang’s Inc.
Sibala, accompanied by representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial office and a consumers’ welfare group, on Tuesday started inspecting the different stores in the city to verify whether this particular batch of Nagaraya had already been recalled after it was found to have contained an unacceptable level of aflatoxin.
Aflatoxin is a fungal toxin that can prove harmful to humans when ingested in large doses.
On Monday, FDA issued an advisory for the recall of Nagaraya Cracker Nut Original Butter Flavor (160 grams) identified under Lot No. 14019 with expiry date 01242015F.
Food Industries, Inc., the distributor of the popular peanut snack, had initiated the recall after this particular batch was found to have high levels of aflatoxin, a type of fungi toxin that could be carcinogenic.
Sibala said that while the bigger grocery stores in Dumaguete are not selling the recalled Nagaraya product, her office will resume inspecting the smaller stores when she returns on Saturday from a work-related trip to Manila.
The FDA officer in Negros Oriental said she still cannot determine whether all stocks of the recalled Nagaraya Cracker nuts are already taken down from the shelves in the various stores in the province.
One person has already reported to the DTI having bought a pack of the recalled Nagaraya Cracker Nuts product from a convenience store in Dumaguete City. (PNA)
