NMSI: 2 Chinese meat brands to be tested
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 19:13:00 10/07/2008
Filed Under: milk crisis, Food, Health
MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE) Authorities on Tuesday said they will test two popular brands of Chinese luncheon meat amid concerns that other food products from the neighboring country may also be contaminated with the industrial chemical melamine.
Jane Bacayo, executive director of the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), said they would collect samples of the Maling brand, manufactured by Shanghai Foods Corp., and another brand, Cofco Chongging Hechuan Food Industrial Co.’s Pork Luncheon Meat, to test for possible melamine content.
Bacayo acknowledged that there have been no reports yet of melamine being found in meat products but said it is better to have the meat brands tested because of concerns over contamination.
The results of the luncheon meat testing would be released next week, he said.
The NMIS director said the agency will coordinate with the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) for the laboratory testing of the meat products.
"I urge the consuming public at this point in time to patronize our [local] luncheon meat products," Bacayo told reporters after the inquiry of the House committee on agriculture on the safety of food products in the country.
“Even if there is no reason for it to be there [in non-dairy food products], we will be conducting tests for melamine to assure the public,” Bacayo told congressmen during the hearing.
Bacayo told the committee that the country’s meat inspection law does not impose criminal liabilities on distributors of unauthorized meat products.
But he said the agency can turn to the Consumer Act of the Philippines to file charges against the sellers. However, he admitted the penalty for offenders is only a fine ranging from P1,000 fine to P10,000.
This revelation prompted Representative Ferjenel Biron to propose that the House committees on agriculture and food and health revisit the Consumer Act and study possible amendments.
Representative Rodolfo Antonino, on the other hand, expressed dismay over what he described as the "laxity" of BFAD officials for not immediately knowing which products are laced with melamine.
Thus far, two of 30 Chinese dairy products -- Greenfood Yili Fresh Milk and Mengniu Drink -- initially tested were found positive for melanine. The BFAD is expected to release its findings on test conducted on some 200 other products this week.
Joyce Carunay, chief of BFAD’s product safety division, said melamine, which is used in making plastics and is mixed with dairy products to make these appear as if they have more protein content, is not an ingredient they expect to be find foods.
Carunay also said that, aside from the melamine tests, the bureau conducts regular tests on canned food for presence of heavy metals and other contaminants.
She said certain canned fruits and vegetables have been found positive for contaminants, but that these were in tolerable levels.
Agriculture committee chairman Representative Abraham Mitra of Palawan retorted: "It doesn't sound good for BFAD to say it's okay to eat these canned goods even if they have contaminants."
But Carunay explained that there is no product with zero contaminants.
Leila B. Salaverria, Philippine Daily Inquirer
|
