Report: Inspectors heighten alert vs tainted meat

With the Christmas season drawing closer, government meat inspection teams have gone on heightened alert against double-dead or tainted meat. The National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) placed its task forces on 24-hour alert against the commodity, radio dzBB's Allan Gatus reported. NMIS head Jane Bacayo said they expect a rise in attempts to sneak the tainted meat into markets due to the higher demand for meat during the holidays. Bacayo said the agency's Task Force Bantay Karne will continue to make surprise inspections in public markets on a 24-hour basis. The report said the NMIS has some 300 veterinarians and meat inspectors for the job. It said they will keep an eye for processed food, especially those without proper packaging. On the other hand, the report quoted Bacayo as saying attempts to smuggle tainted meat has not been as intense as in past years, saying this may be partly due to the NMIS' surprise inspections. Bacayo also said their records so far showed much of the tainted meat came from Central and Southern Luzon. In Metro Manila, Bacayo noted much of the tainted meat is being dumped in markets in Balintawak (Quezon City), Libertad (Pasay), and Divisoria (Manila). — LBG, GMA News