Warning out vs grated coconut

Acting FDA director general Kenneth Hartigan Go. Photo from www.fda.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines—The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned the public against buying a grated coconut product that may be contaminated with salmonella.

The FDA issued the warning against Diwa Grated Coconut after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency raised a health alert against the product.

In an advisory posted on its website, the FDA said the product was not registered with the agency.

The manufacturer, identified as Sambel Pacific Corp. in Calamba City, Laguna, had an FDA license to operate that expired in 2007, the FDA said.

It said the manufacturer may have violated the FDA Act of 2009 which prohibits, among other things, the manufacture, importation, exportation or sale of any health product that is adulterated, unregistered or misbranded.

The importer of the grated coconut in Toronto, Canada, is Diwa Product Ltd.

The FDA said its field food and drug officers were investigating the food manufacturer.

Kenneth Hartigan Go, acting FDA director general, said they were asking all food manufacturers and processors to register their products before exporting them to other countries.—Tina G. Santos

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