Doha: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) issued a statement affirming that Jif peanut butter products with the batch numbers from 1274425 to 2140425 are not being sold in local markets in the country.
The products mentioned, with the specified batch numbers, were produced at a factory in Lexington - Kentucky and news was circulated about its contanimation of pathogenic salmonella bacteria and with possible connection with food posioning cases in the US.
Despite the lack of notification about the export of the suspected batches to Qatar and its absence in local markets, the Ministry had withdrawn the other batches of the Jif peanut butter product and got it tested in a laboratory, as a precautionary measure. Furthermore, the Ministry stated that results indicate that the products currently in the market are safe and suitable for human consumption.
MoPH also clarified that all imported food products traded in outlets in the local market are subject to verification of health requirements to ensure safety and compliance with approved standard specifications.