50 kilos ‘hot meat’ seized in Carbon market

CEBU, Philippines - Around 50 kilos of ‘hot meat’ were seized by authorities from a stall in Carbon market in Cebu City yesterday morning.

Dr. Alice Utlang, head of the city’s Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries, said meat inspectors confiscated 40 kilos of "smelly, slimy and discolored" chicken heads, and 3.9 kilos of large intestines with puss-filled abscess from the stall of Edgar Gonzales.

Based on DVMF records from January 1 to March 14, Utlang said they have confiscated a total of 1,314 kilos of contaminated meat of chicken, beef and pork.

Utlang said the seized meat did not have any meat inspection certificate. It also did not have the incision on its cheek and the branding that would signify that it has undergone proper inspection and slaughter.

"Consumers must ask for the inspection certificate. They should buy sa ilang suki, unya ila sad simhoton or use their senses pagpalit. Unya di lang mopalit dayon kay barato. Okay og barato basta sigurado," she said.

She said hot meat is very dangerous because it comes from animals that may have been slaughtered in ways that do not conform to sanitary standards.

She appealed to the retailers and vendors to only sell meat products that are fit for consumption.

“Please be conscientious in selling meat. Make sure that you are selling a safe meat and not just for profit,” she said.

"They must remember they have also a big role to play in providing safe meat to the community. I Hope di sila mag-wait nga makasuhan ug mamultahan sila basin ulahi na ilang pag mahay kung ang balaud amo gyung fully ipatuman," she explained.

Utlang said her office is intensifying its campaign against the selling of contaminated or hot meat, especially in Carbon Public Market, the central delivery point of meat products.

She assured that personnel of the city’s veterinary office are monitoring the markets day and night to ensure that hot meat won’t be sneaked into the stalls.

"We intensify gyud because aside sa meat inspection law naa sad Food Safety Act," she said.

Vendors and stall owners caught selling “hot meat” can be charged for violation of Republic Act 10536, or The Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines.

According to the law, aside from an imprisonment of six to 12 years, violators may be made to pay up to P1 million, depending on the discretion of the court. (FREEMAN)