By Bohol Chronicle
A technical group will be immediately formed to conduct province-wide meat inspection after the Provincial Veterinary's Office found out that imported meat is likewise penetrating the local market.
This was disclosed to the Chronicle by Gov. Edgar M. Chatto after he received the comprehensive report from the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian confirming the presence of imported meat in the province. Chatto added that constant and long term monitoring will also be implemented as the governor will also relay the same directive to all town mayors in the province. It can be recalled that Boholanos were alarmed earlier last week over the expose of Rolando Tambago, president of the Central Visayas Pork Producers' Cooperative (CVPPC) that imported meat which somehow dominated in the wet markets of Cebu poses danger to the consuming public. Tambago added that these meat are into shipment for 18 months before arriving in the ports of Cebu City.
Tambago further said that when they are sold to the wet market wherein freezing machines are not available, bacteria multiply rapidly.
Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz confirmed the presence of imported meat in the local market.
"We could not anymore trace when did the entry of these imported meat began, but our data is certain that these meat are here in the province for the whole year 2010", Lapiz stressed.
"Dr. Pablo Balite, the regional quarantine officer, disclosed that indeed there were records which shows that imported meat from U.S., Brazil, Canada and Australia were able to arrive in Bohol via Cebu at an outstanding 700 kilos per week for the whole year 2010", Lapiz explained as she added that "no records can show in which part of Bohol are these meats being delivered".
Lapiz added that for the meantime, they can't trace who are the shippers because there had been no consignee in every delivery.
Initial investigations of the provincial veterinary revealed that most of these imported meat are back fat pork and pork skin which is usually dropped in processing machines to be processed as "chicharon", "chorizo" and "longaniza".
Lapiz was certain that what happened in Cebu wet markets are not happening here in Bohol.
These imported meat are not found in the wet "market here as well as in the local supermarkets as they have more supply of local meat".
She added that all these imported meat bear Certificate of Meat Inspection (COMI) before reaching our province. Thus, the meat in itself is safe and fit for consumption.
However, the problem of improper handling is the main detractor which can lead to contamination.
"Any kind of meat whether local or imported has its temperature limits. When the temperature of the meat reaches 37 degree Celsius, contamination with Escherichia Coli (E-Coli) bacteria starts to rapidly multiply", Lapiz pointed out.
Lapiz said that E-Coli bacteria are present in our body and normally found in the micro flora of our stomach. Severe contamination can cause food poisoning.
However, Lapiz quickly stressed that there have been no records of patients here who experienced food poisoning due to processed meats.
Though it's certain that these imported meat are dropped in the processing, there have been no investigations yet to prove that there is improper handling that can contaminate these meat.
REAL SCENARIO
Lapiz said that these imported meat arrived in the country because we cannot supply the demands of pork to our processed meat producers that processed them into "chorizo", "longaniza" and "chicharon", of which Americans don't usually eat.
"Here in the country, we sell pork together with the fats and flesh, while in America, they don't' sell fats because they don't eat them. Thus, what they don't consume are shipped here for our consumption because we Filipinos eat these parts", Lapiz said.
"In fairness to the processing operators, the meats they processed are not smuggled because of the COMI, thus, it is safe for consumption", Lapiz clarified as she continued that "the issue here is whether there is mishandling of these meats of which we have not proved yet".
The provincial veterinary office is now on the process of determining the consignee of every delivery of imported meat here in the province.
They are also investigating what ferry is used to transport these imported meats. Lapiz said that it might also happen that these meats are having entry in the province by not passing to our regular ports of entry.
They are also investigating if regular passengers were able to bring these meats here while purchasing them in Cebu at a low price.
The Office of the Provincial Veterinarian is urging the people to be vigilant in reporting the presence of pork that are sold in a very low price. Concerned citizens may call the following numbers for any suspicious selling of pork; 038-411-2378 (PLDT) , 038-501-8801 (Globelines), or TEXT at 09088888803 (Smart). (Anthony Rañoa Aniscal)
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