Nagaraya nuts recalled for toxic content

MANILA, Philippines - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday advised the public that a batch of Nagaraya Cracker Nut Original Butter Flavor (160mg) had been voluntarily recalled due to toxic content.

In Advisory 2014-017, FDA director general Kenneth Hartigan-Go said the Food Industries Inc. had initiated the recall of the concerned batch of their product which was found to contain “unacceptable level of aflatoxin,” a byproduct of molds.

Affected by the recall are Nagaraya products under Lot 14017 which will expire on Jan. 24, 2015. 

“Except the specified product under the mentioned lot number, no other Nagaraya variants and sizes are affected by the recall,” Go said.

He also advised consumers who have purchased these products to contact the sales department of the Food Industries at 810-0141.

He added that the FDA is continuously monitoring peanut-based food products to protect the public’s health.

Last January, the FDA warned against pre-packed imported and locally manufactured peanuts that “contained levels of Aflatoxin B1 beyond the acceptable limit of 20 parts per billion (ug/kg).”

Aflatoxin is a secondary product of molds that could grow on peanuts if they are not properly dried, causing them to rot.

The FDA said Aflatoxin B1 is commonly found in food products and is also the most toxic and carcinogenic. The other aflatoxins are Aflatoxin B2, G1 and G2 and M1 and M2.

Aflatoxin is known as “anti-nutritional” as it binds proteins, vitamins, and minerals so the body will not be able to absorb the nutrients.

Aflatoxin can also stunt growth and can lead to “kwashiorkor,” a debilitating disease of nutritional deficiency in children.

If ingested over a prolonged period of time in large doses, the poison can also inhibit the immune system.

With prolonged cell exposure, aflatoxin causes mutation of the cell DNA, increasing the risk of developing cancer cells, the FDA said.