The United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA)

Peanut and almond butters

The six brands being recalled were Arrowhead Mills, MaraNatha, Kroger, Safeway, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, involving 43 types of different peanut and almond butters packaged in glass and plastic jars.

The best before dates of the affected batches of the products ranged between December 4, 2014, and July 21, 2015.

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS), through its routine Food Incident Surveillance System, learned about a voluntary recall of six brands, involving 43 types of different peanut and almond butters packaged in glass and plastic jars initiated by the manufacturer concerned in response to the test results of the US FDA.

After investigation, the CFS preliminarily confirmed that the affected products had been made available for sale in Hong Kong. The retailers concerned had stopped sale of the affected products upon CFS' instruction.

Checks on other major retail outlets have been conducted and, so far, no affected products have been found.

The CFS will alert the trade to stop selling the products concerned and has been liaising with the US authorities for more information.

The CFS will continue to closely monitor the situation and liaise with relevant authorities to follow up on the incidents.

Stop selling the affected product immediately.

Consumers who have bought the affected batches of the products should stop consuming them.

People should seek medical treatment if they feel unwell after consuming the particular products.

Salmonella infection may cause fever and gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The effects on people with lowered immunity such as infants and young children could be more severe and sometimes may even lead to death.

The CFS press release

More information about the affected products can be found at the following US FDA’s website: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm410533.htm.