by Dyanarha Lavadia, Davao Today Intern
SUPERVISOR. Deborah Legaspi, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Davao supervisor, tells the members of the press on Thursday that they did not find any working water system inside the manufacturing house of Wendy’s Delicious Durian Candy in Maa, Davao City.(Ace R. Morandante/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY – After a mass poisoning of children involving repacked durian candies, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) here ordered the candy manufacturer to pull out its products from the market and surrender it as soon as possible.
On July 10 a food poisoning outbreak was declared in the towns of Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, and other nearby towns, when close to 2,000 people, mostly school children, were downed after eating the candies.
FDA Davao Supervisor Deborah S. Legaspi told a news briefing that they started an investigation on Saturday on two manufacturing companies which were complained as the source of the ‘poisonous candies’.
Legaspi identified the companies,as JJCM Food Product of Wendy’s Delicious Durian and Blessies Delicious Durian Candies.
Aside from the samples collected from Caraga, there were also samples gathered from the manufacturing facility for laboratory testing and the remaining 204 packs of durian, mango, and mangosteen candy products of JJCM Food Product were confiscated by FDA.
During the inspection, the FDA discovered that there was “no evidence of functioning source of water within the production area”.
“It is now questionable how they will sort out water in making durian candy and how they will wash all the equipment needed for the production,” Legaspi added.
In the meantime, Senior Inspector of City Health Office (CHO) Jinolex Caingles, assured the buying public that they will fully monitor all food processing establishments and strictly implement the law on food safety.
CHO will conduct a food and safety seminar on Tuesday to all food handlers especially those who were involved.
Legaspi however, encouraged the consumers to patronize only products from reputable manufacturers and products with packaging labels, buyers should also read expiration date.
Distributing sites of JJCM Food Products were identified at San Francisco in Bukidnon, Kidapawan, Tandag, Digos, and Kabacan in Cotabato.
Reports came out that Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista has ordered the pullout of food products in all grocery centers and stores manufactured by Wendy’s Candy Factory and all expired food products.
The laboratory results of the complained candies brought at the FDA satellite laboratory for analyzing will come out any time this week, said Legaspi. (davaotoday.com)
