Craving for 'lechon'? Don't overeat, says DOH official

If weight gain doesn't worry you, here's another reason for Christmas partygoers to eat in moderation: some popular party fare, including the traditional lechon, may not be all that sanitary, an official of the Department of Health warned on Wednesday.

 

Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, program manager of the DOH emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases unit, said that when stores have their displays in the open air, the food is exposed to microbes and pollution. An earlier report on dzBB radio said some lechon stalls in the La Loma district in Quezon City display their wares in the open air, potentially exposing them to pollution.

 

"Businesses always do this, but it doesn't mean it's right. Some lechon stores tend to display their wares in the open air. So our advice to partygoers who want lechon is to take just some and eat in moderation. Don't overeat," Lee Suy said in Filipino in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

The lechon (roast pig) is often the highlight of Christmas feasts, which have begun to peak as December rolls in. The La Loma district is known for its many stalls selling the popular Filipino dish.

 

Lee Suy said that aside from microbes, flies may also alight on the meat, causing it to be "tainted."

 

On the other hand, he said it would be rude to ask the party host where he or she bought the lechon.

 

"It's hard to judge by the appearance where the lechon was bought. And it would be inappropriate to ask the host where the lechon was bought," he said in Filipino.

 

Lee Suy said those who feel ill after eating should see a doctor immediately.

 

Lee Suy added that eating in moderation should apply to all types of food, not just lechon. "Let's not wait until New Year to try to lose weight... Right now Christmas parties are being staged left and right," he said. – CGL/KG, GMA News