UNSAFE | Stocks of pork believed to be unsafe for consumption are confiscated by personnel of the Cebu City government’s Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries in a surprise inspection early in August. (Photo by NESTLE SEMILLA / Inquirer Visayas)
CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — City officials here warned meat sellers they would face hefty penalties if they were caught selling products unsafe for consumption after a surprise inspection early this month at a public market here yielded 35 kilograms of spoiled meat.
Robert Barquilla, the city’s market administrator, was quoted by Cebu City News, the online news platform of the city government, that surprise inspections would be conducted at the Carbon Public Market and even at satellite markets to ensure that vendors were not selling spoiled meat to their customers.
Barquilla made the warning on Monday after personnel from the Market Operations Division (MOD) and the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) seized the spoiled meat from 10 vendors during a surprise inspection at Carbon Public Market on Aug. 10.
According to Barquilla, some of the confiscated meat had turned green, indicating they were already unsafe for consumption. After their products were seized, the erring vendors were given a citation ticket and were verbally warned by MOD personnel, he said.
‘Singapore-like city’
The DVMF also required each of the erring vendors to pay a fine of P2,000 to P5,000, depending on the gravity of the offense.
Barquilla said the MOD would revoke the permit to operate of vendors who would be caught selling spoiled meat three times.
The market administrator advised the public to report vendors who are caught selling spoiled meats.
“The direction of (Cebu City) Mayor Mike Rama is a Singapore-like city. Hence, we should display meat, fish, vegetables and fruits that are really fresh. I mean we should prevent selling rotten goods and food,” Barquilla said.