Phl on alert for possible contaminated foods from Japan

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has alerted its field officers on the possible illegal entry of various frozen foods from Japan said to be contaminated with malathion pesticide, a senior official said today.

Philippine FDA Acting Director General Kenneth Hartigan-Go said that he ordered the agency's field officers to confiscate products by Japan-based Maruha Nichiro Holdings, which had started recalling 6.4 million packages of various frozen foods since last December, if its products managed to illegally enter the country.

"All field Food and Drug Regulation Officers are now conducting investigation if the said food products may have entered the country illegally and are now being sold or offered for sale in groceries and supermarkets all over the country," he said.

Go said as per present FDA record, neither an FDA-licensed distributor imported the said products from Japan nor any products are registered with the agency.

The Health Ministry in Japan had been quoted to have confirmed 556 people getting sick after eating Maruha products, Go added.

Go said the FDA requested the Bureau of Customs to remain vigilant in guarding the Philippine borders against the illegal entry of unregistered products, including contaminated and substandard food products.

"The FDA appeals to all the local government units to report to FDA all products that are subject of recall in Japan," he added.