Expired choco drink, milk washed ashore

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – A still undetermined number of packets of powdered milk and chocolate drinks, which were later found to be past expiration dates, were recovered by residents of the coast of Barangay Bantayan in this city the other day.

Residents said they saw what looked like an oil slick with items being carried by the sea southward, which was about 50 to 100 meters from the shore of Silliman Beach at around 3 p.m. Wednesday. It was not however ascertained yet on where the items came from.

Some of the packets were washed ashore of Bantayan and the residents, especially children, as soon as they found these were powdered milk and chocolate drinks, gobbled these down.

The retrieved packets of the milk and choco beverage were of local brands and manufactured in the Philippines but some of these have an expiry date of September 1995.

Children later complained of having stomach cramps, but the adults said they did not experience any unusual illness. A few male adults were also seen partaking of some powdered milk as their “pulutan” while drinking “tuba” and rum, but they were not bothered by the expired powdered beverages.

Businessman and fishing enthusiast Michael Alano, who owns a motorized boat moored at Silliman Beach, immediately advised the residents to refrain from further digesting the stale food packs after seeing the expiry dates on the items.

City Councilor Albert Aquino, the city’s ABC president, said he would have the incident investigated to prevent his barangay constituents from getting ill.

It was not immediately known where the items originated and who could be responsible of the incident but Aquino assured the public that he will investigate the matter and that he will get samples of the drifted food packets for possible testing by the Bureau of Food and Drugs.

Aquino said he will confer with the City Health Office about the incident as he further promised to inform barangay captains of coastal areas to warn their constituents against partaking of the expired items to avoid contamination. - THE FREEMAN