Health buffs challenge local meat processors

Noting the increasing number of health-conscious consumers, meat processors in the Philippines are now moving to introduce healthy processed food, especially canned goods in the market.

"We can produce products without using the real meat to address the health-conscious market," said Philippine Association of Meat Processors in the Philippines (PAMI) president Felix Tiukinhoy Jr.

He said aside from the dwindling market demand for processed meat products in the Philippines, coupled with the dumping of cheap canned good products from China to the Philippines, the industry is also challenged to produce healthy products, such as processed meat that are mixed with meat extenders, or using vege-meat, or meat substitutes.

In fact, he said due to the increasing price of meat products, some meat processors have started to use meat extenders, and other meat substitute products, to cut cost, and at the same time provide healthy options to consumers.

In her recent visit to Cebu, Senator Pia Cayetano urged the meat processors in the Philippines to deliver healthy processed food to the market.

Cayetano, who is a health advocate, said that food processors should take to heart, the inclusion of healthy ingredients to their products, and provide goods that will cater to the health-conscious market.

Tiukinhoy, who is the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Cebu-based Virginia Foods Inc. (CFI) said more products will be introduced in the market gearing towards addressing the health conscious consumers.

On the other hand, Tiukinhoy called the attention of Filipino consumers to be vigilant in buying processed meat products, because some of those are manufactured by unscrupulous food processors specifically in China, and most of which contain health-hazardous ingredients.

He said PAMI is lobbying for the intensified campaign to seize the entry of smuggled luncheon meat brand "Maling" as it has already affected the local meat processors.

The industry is working with the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), to capture the illegal entry of some "Maling" products in the Philippines.

"They don’t pay taxes. That’s why they can price Maling goods way below the competing brands," he said referring to the rampant entry of smuggled Malings.