FDA issues warning vs coco product

MANILA, Philippines - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday issued a health warning against Diwa Grated Coconut product reported by the Canadian authority to be contaminated with salmonella, a bacteria that causes food-borne disease.

In an advisory, FDA acting director Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go said they were notified by International Economic Relations of the Department of Foreign Affairs in a letter dated Oct. 21 about a “notice” of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong that the product “may be possibly contaminated with salmonella.”

The product was imported from the Philippines.

The FDA found out that the importer of the product in Toronto is Diwa Product Ltd. while the manufacturer in the Philippines is Sambel Pacific Corp. in Calamba City, Laguna.

Go, however, noted that Sambel’s FDA-issued license to operate had already expired in 2007. The FDA had warned the public against buying the products.

The agency’s field food and drug officers are now investigating the manufacturer of the product.

“The FDA is requesting all food manufacturers and processors to register their respective products before exporting to other countries. Food safety is a global concern,” Go said.

He added “processed food products that are contaminated with physical, chemical and biological hazards should not be offered for sale or for consumption.”