DOH spokesman: Ensuring food safety is everyone’s responsibility

Ensuring that what one eats is safe is the responsibility not only of the government and producers, but also of the public, Department of Health spokesperson Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy said Tuesday, in light of recent food poisoning incidents in different parts of the country.

In a television interview, Lee Suy said, "This is a call for everyone, 'di lang sa government, kundi sa consumers. Lahat tayo may responsibilidad... Ang responsibility, hindi lang sa manufacturers at vendors. [It's also] up to consumers."

"The individual's responsibility is, una, gamitin mo ang senses mo. Smell the product. Tingnan mo baka may amag na. Pangalawa, check on the product. Although, 'di lahat ng labels may expiration date. Why would you insist on taking products na expired na? Kasi nakamura ka?" he added.

Lee Suy warned that "food poisoning can cause death... Pwedeng magkaroon ng malaking problema kung hindi natin susundin ito."

He said that monitoring is part of the responsibilities of agencies including the Department of Interior and Local Government.

On the part of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Lee Suy said the agency "has to make sure the manufacturer has good manufacturing practice," while the actual selling of products is "part of the LGU's (local government unit) function."

Reminders

In light of the incident in Quezon City, where 10 students were hospitalized and even taken to the pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) after eating macapuno candies, Lee Suy said, "If galing sa stranger, 'wag mong tanggapin."

He said that the incident, which followed a similar one in Surigao del Sur, where some 2,000 people were downed by durian and mangosteen candies, should be a reminder to parents to teach their students about this.

"Ongoing pa ang problema sa Caraga, nasundan agad ng macapuno. The situation is the same. Sinabihan na namin na 'pag galing sa stranger, don't take it, pero ginawa pa rin. "Siguro dapat ang mga magulang sabihan rin ang mga anak," he said.

Lee Suy said that the school may be liable in the incident. "Kung hindi pag-aari ng school, at least may permit from the school na magtinda doon," he said.

Cleanliness

Those who prepare food, or look for places to eat, should also take note of cleanliness, Lee Suy reiterated.

"We don’t want to kill the industry pero kung pagpasok mo sa lugar, madumi, du'n mo maiisip paano pine-prepare ang food. Kakain ka pa ba o hindi? Ang importante talaga is if you trust the people na nagpe-prepare ng food," he said.

The official added, however, that one needs to be careful and not immediately dismiss an upset stomach as food poisoning.

"Sasabihin lang na nagtae ka, food poisoning na. We need to distinguish. Food contamination may be intentional, so mahirap. Kung mag-isa ka lang tapos sumakit ang tiyan mo, pwedeng hindi food poisoning. Pwedeng 'di lang maayos ang lagay ng katawan mo," he said. —Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/KBK, GMA News