I|AME As[-Iflltfttl
P0RK lr[ill$ -- s01011
By Ryan Ponce Pacpaco
FOR the sake of bansparency and consumer welfare
identify processed meat products that tested positive
for the African Swine Fl u (ASF) virus, a H ouse leader
on Sunday called on th€ Departnent of Agticulture
(DA).
Meanwhile Mekeni Food Coro. vesterdav recalled a ll
its pork products amid reports^t(at some'have tested
positive fo! ASF.
Mekeni, ina statem€nt, said ithas submifted samples
of its products to the Bureau of Animal Industry urider
the Departfient of Agricuttue and an indefendmt
testing facility.
"Even as we wait lor the results of these tesL9, we
have dec ided to ini ti d te a voluntarv recall of all of our
pork-based products effective 26 October 2019," it
said.
"This is bo erlsure tha t wg mitiqate the possibiliti that
our products inadvertently becdme carriers of ASF."
HoweverlhePampanga-based firm insisted itsprod-
ucts are "gafe for con6umption."
"No less than the Departmmt of Health and the DA
have reiterated that ASF poses no danger to hurnan
heatth-" ii said
ASF SCARE
Quezon City Rep. Precious Hipoiito Caslelo, vice
chairperson of the House Committee on Metro Marrila
Development, said keeping Ure public guessing wor-rJd
onJy fuel umecessary ASF xa re on all processFd mea I
products lhal could affect supply and prices.
"We don't want this Lo happen especially when
millions of our countrl,men dre about to celebml.e the
Christrnas season," said Castelo.
The lawmaker noted many Filipinos, particularly in
Meho Manila, buv camed eoods and prccessed meai for
Christmas-
Castelo said ndming the contaminated good s would
spare thos€ that are not and proyide the publjc with
choices.
-'ThbDA shou.ld also identify the goods not contam-
inated with ASF." said Castelo.
The policymaker clarified tllat while ASF does not
pose any threat to husl,n heal th, it has alarmed severa I
local government units (l-CUs), which imposed a ban on
contaminated meatproducts to protect tlieirhog indus-
tries.
"So the DA should be transpa rent as public welJare
and meat businesses are of paiamoturt ioncem," said
Castelo, "Doing so would also plotect the indusfy not
affected by ASF."
Earlier, the DA reported tlpt several canned goods
and meat producb tested positive for ASF virus but
declined to name them.
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