THE Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) has warned consumers in Negros Occidental on the possible proliferation of “double-dead” meat products among local markets during the holiday season.
Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said “unscrupulous” vendors may take advantage of the busy market situation especially when demand is at peak.
“Double-dead” are from livestock or poultry which have died due to disease, then slaughtered and sold as fresh meat.
Among the possible strategies of erring vendors include selling of horse meat and by-products, but offering it to consumers as beef, he said.
As a counter measure, the Provincial Government has provided an office space for the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), lodged with the PVO building in Bacolod City, so that they can work hand in hand in ensuring that there will be no “double-dead” meat in Negros Occidental.
“We are working on increasing public awareness that we have meat laboratory. If they have problems with the quality of the meat products they purchase, they can submit samples for examination,” Decena added.
For consumers to ensure safety and quality of the products they are buying, they should look for meat inspection certificate posted at every market stalls.
Meat should also have stamps from dressing plants and slaughterhouses. Without these, the products have not passed through the required inspection.
Aside from certification and marking, consumers should also check the appearance of the products.
Decena said fresh meat looks “pinkish “ while double-dead is smelly, pale, and has blood clot even when frozen.
For chicken in particular, these are normally evident on wing and thigh parts.
Decena added that in compliance with the Consumer Welfare Act, vendors should use white electric bulb instead of colored ones being utilized to deceive buyers.
“The Provincial Government really campaigns for wholesome, safety and hygienic meat shops which consumers should patronize," he said, adding that “market supervisors should check these strategies of erring vendors.”
Decena said the function of PVO is limited only to inspection.
The business aspect is under the local government units, including the implementation of sanctions and penalties like cancellation of permits.
“Individual and consumer groups should be vigilant and aggressive in reporting these illegal acts," Decena said, adding that people’s health should not be compromised.
