FDA gives Mekeni go-signal to resume sale of pork products

MANILA, Philippines — More than a month since processed pork products manufactured by Mekeni Food Corp. posted positive for African swine fever (ASF), the company said it was now ready to redistribute its pork products in the market.

In a statement released to the press on Friday, Mekeni, one of the leading food processors in the country, said the Food and Drug Administration had already given the go-ahead for the company to redistribute its processed pork products after an independent test proved that these were negative for ASF.

To recall, Mekeni voluntarily withdrew all its pork-based products in the market as the viral hog disease continued to spread in several parts of Luzon.

This despite the constant reassurance from the Department of Health that ASF posts no risks to humans.

The products in question were specific batches of Mekeni Picnic Red Classic Hotdog 500 geams and Skinless Longganiza 200 grams.

“During that difficult time, even if we knew that the business will be greatly affected, we chose to uphold our core values and put the welfare of the general public above all else,” Mekeni president Prudencio Garcia said.

Asked how much the company lost after recalling the said items, Mekeni said in an interview with the Inquirer that the figure “runs in the millions,” but noted that the company “was willing to sacrifice that to help the industry and address the fear of consumers.”

It added that it was also a precaution to ensure that their products would not inadvertently become carriers of ASF.

Industry players who talked to the Inquirer said that while demand for pork products was expected to rise as the holiday season nears, it was not certain whether it would now go back to normal levels.

Some consumers are still expected to consume chicken or beef as an alternative to pork as the government continues to contain the spread of the disease.