'Lechon de ipis' triggers Pangasinan health office probe

Health officials in Pangasinan have started an investigation of a restaurant in Asingan town over complaints a lechon (roast pig) bought from there had a cockroach in it.

 

The parties concerned had complained to the Provincial Health Office about the alleged food contamination, GMA Dagupan reported Monday.

 

One of those who ate the lechon was brought to a hospital. Authorities are looking into whether this was due to eating contaminated food.

 

Also being investigated is an eatery in Dagupan City that served a pigar-pigar (deep-fried beef) dish that also had a coackroach in it.

 

Provincial health officer Dr. Anna Marie de Guzman said the eateries concerned may face temporary closure if they are found to violate sanitation requirements.

 

"Ito po ay paiimbestigahan muna natin at pag na-establish po natin na may paglabas sa alintuntunin ng sanitation, sila po ay maaari nating temporarily ipasara hanggang sila ay makapag-comply," she said.

 

"Ang tawag po natin diyan, kontaminasyon sa pagkain. Yung ipis po ay mga dinadaanang mga basura kaya may mga nitnit na mikrobyo," she added.

 

The restaurant in Asingan commented on the allegation it.

 

Meanwhile, the provincial health office reminded food stalls of the need to make sure the food they sell are  food is not contaminated especially by animals like cockroaches and rats.

 

It said establishment owners should use insecticide and make sure the establishments are clean.

 

"Kailangan po talaga, nave-vector control sila, yun tinatawag namin na naglalason sila ng mga daga at ipis," de Guzman said.

 

Polluted poultry farm

 

Meanwhile, in Sta. Barbara town in Pangasinan, residents in Barangay Patayak are complaining of flies from two big poultry farms in the area.

 

The residents said their fly traps would be filled quickly with flies, GMA Dagupan's Joyce Segui reported.

 

"Grabe, perwisyo po sa mga bata at sa pagkain namin... Dahil talagang nakakaperwisyo na po," said resident Perlita Palaganas.

 

Residents said this has been going on for weeks. Some residents used mosquito nets at night to protect their children from the flies.

 

One resident suspected the flies may have caused a child to vomit and have loose bowel movement.

 

"Hindi namin alam... baka roon sa poultry," the resident said when asked where the flies came from.

 

The owners of the poultry farms, identified as Takaaki and Magbual, declined to comment but pointed to each other's farm as the source of the flies.

 

While the local barangay said the operations of the two farms are legal, it will investigate the source of the flies.

 

"Malamang, mapatawag sila para mabigyan natin ng pansin itong mga reklamo," said barangay Kagawad Rene Idos when asked if the barangay will summon the owners of the two farms for questioning.  — Joel Locsin/ELR, GMA News