Bureau of Food and Drugs to ban imported pistachios

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Customs announced yesterday that they would prohibit the entry of imported brands of pistachio products after authorities raised suspicions of salmonella contamination.

Customs Intelligence and Enforcement Group (IEG) chief Deputy Commissioner Jairus Paguntalan said they would issue an advisory on the possible arrival of these pistachio products from the United States.

“We will issue an advisory, that is automatic. Actually, even as early as the release of news reports, we are already on guard. We will not allow the entry of these goods, especially if they are included in the advisory,” Paguntalan said.

Paguntalan added they took the initiative of alerting Customs personnel on the possible arrival of pistachio shipments from the US, and for them to follow the guidelines issued by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD).

Paguntalan said, however, Customs could only control the imports that are still in their custody.

“If there were any imports released, it was because there was no advisory issued before on this salmonella contamination,” he said.

Once these shipments have been released to the market, other government agencies, such as the BFAD and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), would take charge to ensure that the tainted nuts would not be available for public consumption.

The importers would have to secure license to operate and clearance from the BFAD before the products are released to them, he said.

The BFAD is reportedly contemplating a recall order for pistachio products manufactured by Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Inc., for possible salmonella contamination.

The BFAD reportedly ordered the pullout of US-manufactured pistachio products after the agency received information from the US Food and Drug Administration that one million pounds of pistachio from a California-based company could be tainted with the typhoid-causing bacteria.

Health authorities confirmed some of the products are being exported to the Philippines.

According to the US FDA transmittal, the batch of allegedly tainted pistachio products were manufactured last December.