“Expired” food seized from two stores

CEBU, Philippines - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confiscated unlabeled, rusty and dented food products in two general merchandise stores in Talisay City yesterday in violation of FDA-implemented laws, rules and regulations.

Food and drug regulation officer 3 Sarah Oriol said that together with the operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation-7 and Naval Forces Central, they seized various canned goods and condiments. The operation started at around 10 a.m.

She added that by virtue of visitorial power, they visited the stores and seized unlabeled, rusty and dented food products which are unsafe for human consumption.

Included in the confiscated items were pineapple tidbits, coconut strings and expired salted black beans allegedly found in display for sale within the premises of one of the stores in Barangay Biasong, Talisay City, Cebu.

According to the FDA, the stores violated RA 9711 for selling and offering for sale adulterated and expired and misbranded health products.

The store was likewise ordered to cease and desist from further selling and offering health products that are adulterated or misbranded.

The said general merchandise stores were directed to submit an answer before the office of the FDA.

Assistant Regional Director Dominador Cimafranca said the role of the NBI was to secure the area and to assist the FDA.

The seized products were placed in a 6x6 Philippine Navy Military Truck.

The legal counsel of the store said the seized products were placed in storage area and they were not on display. The store has been operating for 12 years already.

He said they will answer the allegations of the FDA and will question the seizure order.

He also clarified that the seized items were placed in a storage area away from the items on display. They were reportedly waiting for the distributor to get the said products.

Meanwhile, Regional Investigator Edgar Diez of the National Food Authority said they received a call informing that there were sacks of rice sold in the store.

Diez said they visited the area and got a sample if the said rice to determine if it is safe for human consumption.

“First we will issue summons. Atong tan-awon if naa ba silay license. I check sab nato sa atong laboratory if daut ba ang bugas nga gibaligya,” he said. — Mylen P. Manto/ATO (FREEMAN)