‘Still very early’ to name manufacturers of ASF-positive processed meats —DA

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday said it is too early to name the manufacturers of processed pork products which tested positive of African Swine Fever (ASF) as authorities are still looking into the possibility of cross-contamination.

The possibility of cross-contamination arose as protocol was not followed when products that were confiscated in Mindoro were tested, according to a DA official.

“Whether may brand po o hindi, it’s still very early or premature to conclude na ‘yun nga po ang resulta kasi mayroon pa po tayong susunod na imbestigasyon na ginagawa,” Agriculture Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan said.

“Nung mangumpiska po kasi ay napagsama-sama ng ating provincial veterinary 'yung mga nakumpiska so that actually, ‘yung protocal dapat masunod na paghiwa-hiwalayin,” Cayanan said in a press conference, noting that most of the processed meats involved were homemade.

On Thursday, a document from the Bureau of Animal Industry was leaked showing that samples of hotdog, tocino, and longganisa tested positive of African Swine Fever.

Agriculture spokesperson Noel Reyes bared that some of the meat products came from a medium-scale processor in Central Luzon.

Later on, he said that most of the confiscated products were homemade.

The Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. noted that the supposed manufacturer of the branded product is not a member of the association but “it is a reputable medium-sized company.”

It has not yet been established whether the homemade or the branded processed meat was the contaminant, he added.

The DA will now collect accurate samples from the actual sources of the products.

Cayanan said that once the test are complete, the DA will hand over the results to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which will determine if a recall is necessary or not. —VDS, GMA News