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HOME / MANILA / LOCAL NEWS / FDA: WENDY'S DURIAN CANDY TAINTED WITH BACTERIA

FDA: Wendy's durian candy tainted

with bacteria
Thursday, July 16, 2015

DAVAO. The Davao Business Bureau Office closed the factory of Wendy's Durian Candy
following the food poisoning outbreak in Caraga. (King Rodriguez)

MANILA (Updated) -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers
against patronizing durian candy with brand name Wendy's, saying the product was
found to have been tainted with "staphylococcus aureus."
Staphylococcus aureus is a type of bacteria commonly found on the skin, hair, noses
and throats of people and animals. It causes poisoning when a food handler
contaminates food. It can quickly produce a toxin that causes illness at room
temperature, according to the FoodSafety.gov.
The FDA said the bacteria in Wendy's durian candies caused the food poisoning
outbreak in Caraga region, wherein a total of 1,926 people were brought to hospitals in
Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Agusan del Sur after eating the candies last
week.
"It is consistent with the symptoms that manifested in the patients. It turns out to be the
real cause of poisoning," said Ma. Lourdes Santiago, FDA acting deputy directorgeneral.

The finding ruled out the possibility of salmonella and E. coli as being the microbial
contamination present in the candy.
The FDA also said that Wendy's products are not registered with the government.
"The public is warned against unscrupulous selling and distribution of unregistered
food items from unlicensed establishments," it said.
Aside from Davao City, Wendy's products are also distributed in San Francisco,
Agusan del Sur; Tandag, Surigao del Sur; Kidapawan City and Kabacan in North
Cotabato, said FDA-Davao supervisor Deborah Legaspi.
"Binigyan na namin ng directive yung owner na i-recall or i-withdraw nila lahat ng
produkto na dinistribute nila sa iba't ibang lugar at i-turnover sa FDA para masiguro na
lahat ng produkto nila ay ma-pullout na sa market," she said.
The agency also advised the public to avoid unlabeled repacked food products claimed
to be the same as or made by manufacturers of known brands or products.
It said that all its field regulatory operations officers and regulatory enforcement agents
have been ordered to monitor and confiscate the said product sold in the market.
Santiago said the contamination may have happened during the food production or
packaging.
"Staph aureus can actually be found anywhere. It is common sa balat, sa buhok so it
might be in the mishandling," said Santiago.
But she did not rule out the possibility of the bacteria coming from the raw materials
and other aspects of the supply chain.
Aside from Wendy's, the FDA conducted inspection on the manufacturing area of
another durian candy maker, Blesse's. About 193 packed candies were sealed.
"Meron naman silang (Blesse's) appropriate license from FDA, pero nag-investigate pa
rin po kami at sinelyohan na po namin yung remaining products nila until further notice
from us. Let's wait first the test results dun sa una," said Legaspi. (HDT/With ICT of
Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)