DTI asks public not to put leftover pork, processed meats in swine feed

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Friday asked the public at large not to include left over pork and processed meats in swine feed or swill to prevent the deadly African Swine Fever (ASF) from spreading.

A document from the Bureau of Animal Industry was leaked to the media, showing samples of hotdog, longganisa, and tocino tested positive of the ASF virus.

“We advise the consumers kung sakali man na magko-consume sila ng processed meat na hindi natin sigurado kung alin ang may ASF o wala, huwag na natin ipakain (sa baboy) kasi alam naman natin kung paano siya nata-transfer from swine to another swine, hindi nalilipat sa tao,” DTI Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

On Thursday, consumer advocacy group Laban Konsyumer Inc. and the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. urged the authorities to disclose more information on the compromised processed meat products.

Of the processed pork products that were confiscated, only one pack was branded, the rest were homemade, Department of Agriculture (DA) spokesperson Noel Reyes said.

The manufacturer of supposedly ASF-contaminated product “is a reputable medium-sized company” in Central Luzon and is not a member of the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI), said association spokesperson Rex Agarrado.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that it will closely coordinate with concerned agencies, especially the DA, if processed pork products should be pulled out of the market.

“Kapag po ang produkto ay hindi pa luto, it’s under the Department of Agriculture. Kapag processed meat po, FDA po ang nagre-recall. Pero tandaan po natin, ang FDA po ang mandato namin ay to make sure that the products are safe for human consumption,” FDA officer-in-charge Eric Domingo said in a separate interview, emphasizing that ASF is not transferable to humans.

“If the Department of Agriculture tells us that may threat sa hog population and they recommend that we stop the distribution of these products, maaari po nating gawin ‘yan pero for agricultural safety and food security,” he added.

Domingo said that the FDA has yet to receive an official report from the DA. —Dona Magsino/VDS, GMA News