Authorities cite 5 provinces as sources of tainted meat

Authorities are zeroing in on farmhouses in at least five provinces they tagged as sources of “double-dead" or tainted hog meat being delivered to markets in Metro Manila. National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) officer-in-charge lawyer Jane Bacayo said Tuesday many of the hogs in these farmhouses had died from diseases related to changes in weather conditions. “Yung mga nahuhuli sa Quezon City, sa Balintawak Market, ito’y galing sa northern part ng provinces dito sa atin: Bulacan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, at dito binabagsak sa Balintawak," Bacayo said in an interview on dzBB radio. (So far we have traced the meat seized in the Balintawak market in Quezon City to the provinces north of Metro Manila, including Bulacan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija. Meat from these areas are dumped in the Balintawak market.) The latest seizure came before dawn Monday, when authorities recovered some 700 kilos of double-dead meat at the Balintawak Market in Quezon City.

Authorities also seized some 66 kilos of processed food products, many of which had the expiry date labels removed. Bacayo said they suspect those behind the sale of tainted meat continue their operations despite frequent seizures since last month. “From September to December there is a rise in the deaths of animals. But this is also the time when demand for meat starts to go up," he said. He said the NMIS has been coordinating with local government units in keeping watch over markets for the tainted meat. Bacayo said the NMIS also coordinates with the provincial veterinary office, tracing the meat to the farms cited ealier. In the meantime, he said they will continue to keep watch over markets where the tainted meat is brought, including those in Pasay and Quezon Cities, and in Divisoria in Manila. Bacayo advised consumers to look out for signs of tainted meat, including low price, a foul smell and a slippery texture. He also said consumers should look for the meat inspection certification in vendors’ stalls. Also, he said symptoms related to ingestion of tainted meat include stomach pains, loose bowel movement, and even food poisoning. However, he admitted many unscrupulous traders still go on illegally selling tainted meat because the law provides low fines and short jail terms against violators. Under the law, he said the fines range from P1,000 to P10,000 while imprisonment ranges from two months to one year. — LBG, GMANews.TV