‘Double-dead’ meat seized in Pasay City
By Julie M. Aurelio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:48:00 01/03/2008
Filed Under: Health, Food, Local authorities
MANILA, Philippines – Meat inspectors seized around 400 kilos of “double-dead” or “hot meat” before dawn yesterday near a slaughter house on Tramo Street in Pasay City.
The meat was in two sacks abandoned by a jeepney at around 2 a.m. at the Ilasi Slaughterhouse at the corner of Tramo and Edang Streets.
Inspectors led by Rodolfo Bernasor of the local Veterinary Health Office seized the meat as the jeepney sped away.
“We suspect that the owner of the meat sensed we were closing in, so he abandoned the hot meat,” Bernasor said in an interview.
The two sacks reportedly contained five dead pigs already cut up.
Bernasor said the meat already had a grayish tinge and blood spread all over the flesh, an indication of “double dead” pork.
“Freshly slaughtered meat no longer has traces of blood because it had been drained,” he explained.
The official added they had not yet identified the owner of the hot meat.
The post-holiday bust was the first for meat inspectors in Pasay City this year. Bernasor said they did not intercept any hot meat during the holidays.
“Nag-iingat din sila noong Pasko. Eh ngayon, nakalusot sila,” he said (They were careful during the Christmas season. This time, they were able to do it).
In an earlier bust, Bernasor’s team confiscated 300 kilos of meat at the corner of Protacio and Taft Avenue. Bernasor said the seized meat was not “double dead” but did not have a clearance and a permit to transport.
He refused to divulge the identity of the meat’s owner, adding he merely warned the owner to follow sanitary requirements next time.
The seized meat was burned yesterday morning to prevent the possible spread of diseases.
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