Following a spate of deaths caused by swine flu abroad, the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) went on double alert Monday for tainted pork that may be smuggled into Philippine markets.
NMIS head Jane Bacayo said they are keeping watch over pork in cold storage from the United States, as well as tainted meat that may be smuggled into supermarkets and markets.
"Doble kayod kami ngayon at inaakayat ang local government unit na magtulungan tayo. Hindi lang LGU pero pati consuming public tulungan kami sa pagbantay ng posibleng double dead meat na pumasok [We are now on double alert, and we are asking assistance from local government units and the consuming public to look out for double dead meat]," Bacayo said in an interview on dzXL radio.
Bacayo also advised the public not to eat pork that is not fully cooked. He said this includes staying away from ihaw-ihaw [grilled] and kilawin [raw] pork.
He said that while there is no direct link yet between eating pork and catching swine flu, there is still a danger of the meat being handled improperly before it is cooked.
"Iwas sa ihaw-ihaw na di naluluto talaga masyado [For now, just avoid eating meat that is not thoroughly cooked]," he said when asked if people should avoid pork.
For his part, Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) head Antonio Villar Jr. said they have coordinated with the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) and Bureau of Customs to watch ports.
Villar, in a separate interview, said the PASG will conduct its inspections outside the ports while the BOC inspects the meat while it is still inside the ports.
He urged the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) to send personnel to the ports also.
"Magpapalagay din kami ng tao riyan pero trabaho namin sa labas inspection-in. Kaya siguro ang BFAD magpalagay ng tao riyan para huwag na makalusot pa [We will send personnel outside the ports to conduct inspections. But the BFAD must also send its own personnel there to prevent meat from being smuggled in]," he said. - GMANews.TV
