Tonight the Belize Agricultural and Health Authority’s advisory
on peanut butter and related products stands. That is because the peanut butter
in your house could be contaminated with the deadly salmonella bacteria which
have already killed 6 people in the United States. Admittedly, there is only
a very small chance that a contaminated peanut butter product is on a store
shelf in Belize, but BAHA isn’t taking any chances. Along with the Public
Health Department, BAHA quarantine inspectors have been scanning stores for
products on the recalled list and today we accompanied them on a check of two
of the city’s largest supermarkets – the Brodies Superstore and
Sav-U Supermarket.
Today the joint teams of BAHA personnel and Public Health Inspectors scanned
aisles and shelves in supermarkets for products on the peanut butter watch list.
They carefully checked and in some cases double checked jars of peanut butter,
granola bars, ice cream, and even dog food against the long list of suspected
products.
Adrian Torres, Quarantine Inspector
“When we go to the supermarket we always take the data of what the
supermarket is selling, the product’s name. As you can see we have the
company name, the address, where it is manufactured, we have the brand and we
have the size and on the list provided to us we have a batch number.
The products are originally from the U.S. but the USDA is recalling the
products due to the possibility of contamination with salmonella. Because salmonella
is a food poison bacteria and it causes death. It depends on the severity of
the situation. We got a list from the FD and they provide us with the list and
we check the establishments and see if they have it. If they have it –
we recall it and we bring them down from the shelf to protect the consumer from
not buying it.”
Keith Swift,
Have you found any?
Adrian Torres,
So far we haven’t any and according to our database - the importation
possibility is very low.”
But not low enough because last week the management of Sav-U pulled these Austin
brand peanut butter and cheese crackers from their stock. CEO Santino Castillo 
says they were one step ahead of BAHA.
Santino Castillo, CEO - Santiago Group of Companies
“We had ordered Austin crackers which were made by the Kellogg Company
from Associated Grocers known as AG who many Belizeans import from, not only
us, and as soon as we found out about it we immediately acted proactively and
did not put them on shelves. In fact we had just received it and were in the
process of pricing. One or two might have gotten on the shelf but we immediately
cleared everything off and are now packaging it to first take photographs and
show our supplies and if necessary ship it back to them if they so request.”
I went and got one of the Austin crackers from the back for you to take back
and show your viewers so they may be acquainted with the type of product they
are talking about. That has been the only product at Sav-U, Bottom Dollar, the
People’s Store and the whole San Cas Group that has been affected by this
recall.”
And while Sav-U voluntarily pulled those items - Public Health Inspector Kevin
Neal says removal of suspected products is now mandatory.
Kevin Neal, Public Health Inspector
“We will seize it; I myself will write a condemnation certificate.
It will prove to show that we came into the establishment and seized the product.
The product will then get handed over to personnel from BAHA and be placed under
examination, laboratory testing and other testing.”
BAHA’s Quarantine Inspector Adrian Torres says there is no need for concern
about peanut butter products not on the recall list.
Adrian Torres,
“They ones they see at the supermarket, they are supposed to be confident
because once it is checked by the Ministry of Agriculture which is represented
by BAHA and the Public Health Department they should be confident. They should
not be concerned.”
Sav-U also removed the Austin Brand’s peanut butter and jelly
crackers from its stock.
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