By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

THE Department of Public Health has warned the public not to eat Peter Pan or Great Value peanut butter with the code “2111” on jar lids due to the risk of contamination with Salmonella Tennessee.
Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin P. Villagomez, in an advisory, stated that the peanut butter brands not safe to eat are those manufactured by Con Agra in Georgia.
He advised consumers to check their supplies at home and throw away any peanut butter with the “2111” code that was purchased since May 2006, as advised by the Food and Drug Administration.
Salmonella Tennessee, Villagomez said, is a bacterium that causes food borne illness, particularly an infection called salmonellosis which is usually transmitted to humans through food contaminated by animal feces.
Two of the biggest stores in Garapan no longer sell Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter.
Franco Hui, general manager of Sunleader Mart, told Variety that they don’t sell these brands of peanut butter.
He said even if they did sell the brands, they would comply with the health advisory and have these brands pulled from their shelves.
No such brands of peanut butter were seen on the shelves of Joeten in Garapan.
Contamination in food is often of animal origin, according to the health advisory, like beef, poultry, milk and egg. Vegetables, however, can also be contaminated.
The incubation period for salmonella is six to 72 hours before diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps result.
The following are preventive measures recommended by Public Health authorities:
• Thorough cooking of food,
• Frequent washing of hands,
• Cleaning and sanitizing of
food contact surfaces.
For more information, call John Tagabuel at 664-4870/72 or 664-4677.