THE "Apo ni Lola Durian Delicacies" urged tourists and food consumers to still include durian products in their shopping list when in Davao City.
Speaking at the Kapehan sa SM Davao, Apo ni Lola operations supervisor Imee Anabesa said the food poisoning in Caraga that involved durian candies was just an isolated case and that there are still manufacturers with high quality products.
But Anabesa admitted that the food poisoning affected all durian candy industries, as most of their consumers have been asking about the quality of their durian candies.
"Yung mga tourists and consumers namin, every time they visit our store, madalas tinatanong nila is kung nakakahilo ba ang durian candies namin," Anabesa said.
She added that they have yet to see any significant losses in their sales.
"Sa amin, okay lang kasi every now and then, we still have tourists and walk-ins na bumibili. In fact, we're selling varieties of durian products. Ang sa amin lang naman, sana hindi ma-generalize lahat ng nasa durian candy industry," she said.
"We are very saddened for the entire manufacturers of the durian candies kasi after all, negosyo ito. And from our end, we would like to guarantee that our durian products are all safe," Apo ni Lola's marketing officer Roldan Maghari said.
Leah Serapio, quality assurance officer of the Apo ni Lola, said they have all the permits needed to run the business, has standard process, good employees and quality products.
Maghari said they are now conducting information drive nationwide to promote durian products considering that the 38th Kadayawan sa Dabaw is fast-approaching.
Davao City Health Office's (CHO) Environment Sanitation Division head Robert Oconer, for his part, confirmed Monday that several consumers cancelled their orders from durian manufacturers and stores due to the issue.
"It is very sad to note that maraming cancellation of orders especially dun sa mga high-end stores. Affected talaga ang durian industry," Oconer said.
Vendors at the Magsaysay Fruit Vendors Association who are also selling durian and mangosteen candies complained last week of their low sales after contaminated durian candies poisoned over a thousand students in Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Sur.
The Food and Drug Administration earlier said the product was found to have been tainted with staphylococcus aureus, a type of bacteria commonly found on the skin, hair, noses and throats of the people and animals. (With KVC)