CONFISCATED. Residents bury 67 kilograms of frozen pork products considered "hot meat" confiscated in Asingan, Pangasinan on Tuesday (May 9, 2023) due to improper and unhygienic handling. The operation was conducted by the regional office of the National Meat Inspection Service in Ilocos. (Photo courtesy of Romel Aguilar/Asingan-PIO)
ASINGAN, Pangasinan – The National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) has confiscated 891 kilograms of hot meat from Jan. 1 to May 9 this year.
In an interview on Tuesday, NMIS-Ilocos Region enforcement team leader Isagani Julius Rodrigo said they are continuously monitoring public markets and slaughterhouses to ensure that meat products sold in the region are fresh, safe for consumption, and have undergone legal processes.
He said among the common violations of vendors is the unhygienic handling of meat products.
“Hindi dapat naka-display ang frozen meat products sa labas ng freezer dahil kapag matagal na nakatiwangwang, maaring tumubo ang mikrobyo at mag-cause ng food poisoning sa mga makakakain (Frozen meat products should not be displayed outside of the freezer because long exposure could lead to bacterial buildup and cause food poisoning),” he said.
He appealed to vendors to ensure that meat products are stored properly.
“Kapag frozen product dapat nasa freezer. Kapag chilled dapat nasa chiller at hindi sa labas (Frozen meat should be in the freezer. Chilled meat should be in the chiller and not outside),” Rodrigo said.
NMIS-Ilocos seized 67 kilograms of imported frozen pork products here, all buried to prevent harm to consumers.
“We have warned them twice aside from earlier warnings but they did not listen and so we need to enforce the law,” he said.
Rodrigo also asked the public to report violators to local meat inspectors who would coordinate with the NMIS for appropriate action. (PNA)
