BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – With the high demand for meat during the holidays, the city government’s Task Force Botagoy (TFB) reminded consumers to be mindful when buying meat products.
Executive Assistant Ernie Pineda, cluster head on markets, said the TFB is regularly checking meat sellers.
Hot meat could either be the carcass or parts of a carcass of cattle and hogs slaughtered by unaccredited meat establishments. These are usually spoiled and unsafe to eat.
So far, the TFB confiscated around 600 kilograms of expired meat products in two supermarkets at the Libertad Market and in Barangay Mansilingan.
Even though illegal slaughtering is not rampant in the city, Pineda said the TFB is not dismissing the possibility of unsafe meat entering markets.
Some meat shops, he said, are finding ways to sell their expired products.
Pineda assured consumers they are making sure all meat products underwent proper inspection at the AVM Bernardo slaughterhouse.
Currently, the price of pork in Bacolod City is averaging P220 per kilo.
Earlier, the Provincial Veterinary Office of Negros Occidental assured consumers not just in the province, but in Bacolod City as well that there are enough stocks of pork for the holidays.
The current farm gate price of pork has not increased, which means that supply is more than the demand./PN
