Five batches of Panda American Style peanut butter have been recalled by Boyne Valley Foods. One batch contains excessive levels of aflatoxin while the remaining four have been withdrawn as a precautionary measure. The product is manufactured in the UK and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland has notified the UK authorities.
Dr Wayne Anderson, the FSAI's chief specialist in food science, said yesterday there was no immediate danger to consumers. Aflatoxins are natural contaminants produced by fungi, which grow on nuts and cereals under certain storage conditions. "What we're concerned about are the long-term effects. Aflatoxins can cause damage to the liver in continuous doses. Long-term exposure can contribute to the risk of liver cancer. This is one of the occasions when we have taken action to maintain long-term health," Dr Anderson explained.
In the course of routine checking the FSAI found levels of aflatoxin which exceeded EU limits in one batch of peanut butter. The company has voluntarily withdrawn all batches made from the same ingredients and placed advertisements in some newspapers alerting consumers who may have bought the product.
The product is manufactured in the UK and the FSAI has notified the UK authorities.
It is not possible totally to eliminate aflatoxins from foods but a 1998 European Commission regulation sets safe levels at four parts per billion (ppb) with lower levels for one particular aflatoxin, the B1 type, Dr Anderson said.
The affected batches are L0215, L0216, L0217, L0291, L0206. (Batch LO215 is the batch tested by the FSAI). The batch code can be found on the lid of the jar. People with any of the affected batches are advised not to eat them.
Boyne Valley Foods has apologised for any inconvenience caused and is asking customers to throw away the affected jar and send the lid, along with their name and address, to: Customer Services Department, Boyne Valley Ltd, Platin, Drogheda, Co Louth. The company will send out a refund voucher plus postage costs.
Boyne Valley Foods has said 83 per cent of Americans eat peanut butter regularly and the legal limit there is five times the EU limit.
"The US Food and Drug Authority Administration has said that you would want to consume a full jar of American peanut butter with excessive aflatoxin levels every day for 40 years for it to have any harmful effect," according to the company.
Dr Anderson said the US action level is 20 ppb but the EU generally tends to take a precautionary approach. The FSAI found levels two to three times higher than the EU limits.