PAL assures passengers its in-flight meals are ASF-free

Amid the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in some parts of the country, Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Tuesday assured passengers that in-flight meals safety should be the least concern of its customers.

“PAL’s catering service providers purchase meat from professional meat suppliers who adhere to the highest standards of meat quality and handling,” the flag carrier said.

An organized disposal system for its food wastes are in place and that these are not being used as swill feed, in line with a memorandum order released by the Bureau of Animal Industry which prohibits such practice.

“After each flight, food waste is collected by PAL’s solid waste service-provider for proper handling,” the airline said.

“Food wastes are subjected to fermentation and the fermented waste is used as feeds for worm culture. This is followed by a process of creating compost which is used as plant fertilizers,” it added.

As of September, over 20,000 hogs in various parts of the country have been culled to control the ASF virus from spreading, according to the Department of Agriculture.

On Monday, a meat vendor was nabbed in Quezon City for allegedly selling ASF-infected pork.

The Department of Health previously clarified that the ASF virus is not transferable to humans.
“We want to allay the fears of the public by saying that, as long as pork is bought from reliable sources and it is cooked thoroughly, pork is safe to eat,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.

Many hog raisers in the country, however, are concern as the disease threatens to weaken the swine industry.

The DA, on the other hand, vowed to provide financial assistance to small backyard raisers. —Dona Magsino/VDS, GMA News