DA watches ‘backyard’ farms as ‘double-dead’ meat source

The government is keeping an eye on “backyard" livestock farms as most likely sources of “double-dead" or tainted meat that threatens to flood markets as Christmas draws closer. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said livestock in these backyard farmhouses are more vulnerable to diseases caused by changes in the weather than those in big commercial farms. “Many cases of double-dead meat involve livestock that died due to diseases related to sudden changes in climate as we are experiencing a relatively rapid transition from hot to cool weather. Usually, livestock in backyard farms are vulnerable to sudden changes in weather conditions," he said in Filipino in an interview on dzBB radio. He said the DA will extend what help it can to the owners of such backyard farms. The government is cracking down on the entry of tainted meat to markets in Metro Manila, as demand for meat is expected to rise during the holidays.

In several occasions in past weeks, authorities had intercepted tainted meat at the Balintawak Market in Quezon City. In mid-November, Quezon City authorities set up checkpoints around the Balintawak Market in anticipation of moves by unscrupulous traders to sell tainted meat there. In early October, the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) monitored farmhouses in at least five provinces in Luzon suspected as sources of tainted hog meat being delivered to markets in Metro Manila. NMIS officer-in-charge lawyer Jane Bacayo had said many of the hogs in these farmhouses had died from diseases related to changes in weather conditions. [See story: Authorities cite five provinces as sources of tainted meat] Meanwhile, in a bid to get the public involved against double-dead or tainted meat, the National Meat Inspection Commission on Wednesday issued hotlines for the public to use. NMIS Metro Manila head Dr. Eduardo Oblena encouraged the public to call 9274050 and 9272658 if they suspect the meat they buy is tainted. — LBG, GMANews.TV