MANILA, Philippines - The use of the label "fresh" in the packaging of pasteurized milk products should be prohibited, a legislator said.
Northern Samar Rep. Harlin Abayon said he has filed a bill to ban the use of the label "fresh" on milk products' packaging as consumers expressed concern over the safety and quality of milk being sold in the market.
He said that milk cartons bearing labels of fresh milk lead consumers to believe that the contents of the milk they acquire is fresh.
"It is misleading because milk being sold in groceries, which is mostly imported, has been pasteurized. Milk being sold in the market underwent ultra high temperature treatment (UHT), which allows it to last for several days," Abayon said.
He said that UHT milk is not the same as fresh milk so that labeling milk that has gone through the process as fresh milk is misleading and inappropriate.
Under House Bill 231, Abayon cited Article 11, Section 15 of the Constitution, which provides that the State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.
"With the proper labeling of milk products, this will not only protect consumers of milk but also the local producers of fresh milk as well," Abayon said.
Under the measure, to be known as the "Milk Nutrition and Labeling Act," producers, importers and traders of pasteurized and processed milk are prohibited from using the label fresh milk in the packaging and sale of milk products.
First time offenders shall be penalized with a fine of P10,000, second time violators P50,000 and third time offenders P200,000, according to the proposed measure.