Meat from Vitas Slaughterhouse safe for humans – Manila inspectors

Manila's Veterinary Inspection Board on Friday said meat from the Vitas Slaughterhouse was safe for human consumption, despite the presence of "contaminants" at the abattoir.

Apart from piles of dirt and garbage, bones and horns of slaughtered animals were seen at the muddy slaughterhouse in Tondo, Maynila, according Tina Panganiban-Perez's report on GMA 7 news program "24 Oras."

The Veterinary Inspection Board said that trash and debris had been accumulating inside the Vitas Slaughterhouse since 2016.

The debris piles were just steps away from the stockyard where buffalo and cattle scheduled for slaughter were penned

"Ang risk niyan ay 'yung mga contaminants na, kahit hindi infectious kagaya ng mga fumes, kagaya ng mga carbon na baka sila'y nagfu-fuel ng kahoy, mapuntahan doon sa ano, contaminants of konting e-coli," explained VIB Supervising Veterinarian Joey Diaz.

While Diaz conceded that there were some lapses on the part of local authorities which led to the concerning conditions at the Vitas Slaughterhouse, the beef and pork produced was free from diseases.

"So ang medyo meron lang kaming pagkukulang is because the facility is not that functioning well. Baka merong konting contaminants na mga dirt na pinipilit naming i-avoid through advising 'yung ating mga meat dealers na i-transport ito nang maayos," said Diaz.

The Vitas slaughterhouse had been rated Class A, meaning that slaughtered meat for the facility was for local consumption, or could only be sold and eaten in Manila.

The animals brought to the slaughterhouse were also rated Class A, meaning they were of good quality and were healthy.

The Vitas Slaughterhouse was capable of slaughtering nearly 100 heads of cattle and buffalo, and 100 pigs.

Diaz however recommended a halt to its operations, or at least a reduction in its capacity.

"Kailangan talaga kung hindi man i-stop muna 'yung operation sa pagkakatay para ma-assure natin na walang magiging problema, i-reduce na lang 'yung volume ng kinakatay dito para at least ma-assure din 'yung food safety, 'yung meat safety ng manggagaling dito," said Diaz.

Conditions at the slaughterhouse were discovered last Friday, following an examination by Manila Mayor Isko Moreno.

Moreno said the local government was planning to build a brand new slaughterhouse, likely to be completed within the year.

"Diyan kasi itatayo natin 'yung bagong slaughterhouse. Kasi kita mo wala na 'yung slaughterhouse... Baka this year. We're moving heaven and earth. Kasi this thing will give kapanatagan sa taong bayan na 'yung karneng kinakain nila ligtas" said Moreno. — Jamil Santos/DVM, GMA News