Belmonte orders crackdown on expired food products

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. ordered a crackdown yesterday on expired canned goods and other food products, which has been proliferating in several markets of the city.

Belmonte issued the order after receiving reports that expired food products with tampered expiry dates were being sold by market vendors.

In response to the order, police operatives and personnel of a market security enforcement team seized a van filled with assorted expired canned goods and other products from the Balintawak market early yesterday morning.

"You must ensure that this goods will not reach consumers," Belmonte told Neil Lina, chief market administrator. Lina presented to the mayor one Aldrin Bartilan, the suspected peddler of the goods.

The seized items included corned beef, noodles, sardines, tomato sauce and milk. They will be turned over the Bureau of Food and Drugs for further examination.

The mayor has also ordered the filing of the necessary charges against the suspect. – Perseus Echeminada