BAHA warns of salmonella in peanut butter products

On Monday News Five spoke to Doctor Michael Deshield, Director of Food Safety at Belize Agricultural Health Authority concerning the salmonella outbreak in the United States that has caused the death of six people and sickened four hundred and seventy-four others. Today, the Ministry of Health and the Consumer Protection Unit of the Belize Bureau of Standards issued a release concerning products tainted with salmonella from peanut butter paste manufactured by a plant owned by the Peanut Corporation of America. BAHA and the Ministry of Health say that the public should be alert because some of the brands are sold in Belize. The government agencies have confirmed that the Austin Quality Foods Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter which has tested for salmonella is available on shelves in Belize. In addition to Reese’s Pieces and the Little Debbie brand, the Kellogg Company has recalled sixteen items including the Austin Brand, Famous Amos Peanut Butter Cookies and Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle Peanut Butter Cookies. BAHA is regulating the importation of peanut butter products and the Consumer Protection Unit will do its part by inspecting supermarkets and retail outlets to remove any tainted products from the marketplace.