Surprise market inspection yields 600 kg spoiled meat

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY --  - A surprise inspection at the city public market Feb. 18 yielded close to 600 kilograms of meat unfit for human consumption up for sale to consumers.
    City Veterinarian Brigit Piok in a report to Mayor Benjamin Magalong said a total of 574.3 kg of meat and chicken were confiscated from six sellers in the operation jointly conducted by the City Veterinary Officer, the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) and the Public Order and Safety Division (POSD) headed by Marvin Herrera.
    Piok said the confiscated meat were found to be either hemorrhagic or pneumonic, mishandled, decomposed or with foul odor while the chicken products were found to have been color-enhanced.
    Piok said they turned over confiscation documents to the City Market Superintendent Fernando Ragma Jr. for filing of cases against the erring sellers.
    City Treasurer Alex Cabarrubias said his office will work with the Permits and Licensing Division on the cancellation of business permits, if any, of the offenders.
    Magalong lauded the team members for their effort which he said is necessary at this time when some people take advantage of the problem on meat supply shortage.
    Piok said the meat market task force decided to conduct the surprise inspection and random monitoring as part of its mandate to safeguard public health by preventing consumers from buying meat that are not safe.
    "Although meat vendors are aware of the safe and hygienic meat handling laws and regulations, there are still violators hence we do inspections regularly and at random but this time, it was done in surprise to catch those who do not comply with our laws," Piok said.