Re Asf tests and findings: Bai told to keep meat processors in the loop

Cebu, Philippines —The Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) urged the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) or any regulatory agency to make a public disclosure of any action, such as the reported testing, to prevent unwanted speculation that could cause irreparable harm and injury to affected parties.

In an official press statement furnished to The Freeman, through PAMPI president Felix Tiukinhoy, the industry clarified its stance following the reports that some processed meat products have been detected with the ASF viral DNA.

“The ASF virus, if any, which was reported to have been detected in the tested products did not appear out of the blue. It was contained in the pork material that was supplied by the local hog raisers to the processor to produce the longganisa, tocino and hotdog as reported. Processed pork products, by themselves, cannot create the ASF virus,” PAMPI explained.

PAMPI reiterates that the ASF virus, whether present or not in pork sold in public markets, or in processed meats containing pork material supplied by local hog raisers, does not pose any health risks to humans.

Meanwhile, Department of Health (DOH) allayed public fears anew on consumption of pork products tainted with ASF.

Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo said people who might have eaten pork tainted with ASF have nothing to worry about.

“It is completely safe. It has no effect on human health. It is safe for human consumption,” Domingo said. “Those threatened by (ASF) are only hogs, and not humans. ASF has no health hazards to humans.”

On Thursday, a document from the BAI was leaked showing that samples of hotdog, tocino, and longganisa tested positive of ASF.

Domingo said they have not seen the BAI report, but he said the FDA will look into the details of the laboratory findings.

Meanwhile, in a GMA News report, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is too early to name the manufacturers of processed pork products, which tested positive of ASF as authorities are still looking into the possibility of cross-contamination.

The possibility of cross-contamination arose as protocol was not followed when products that were confiscated in Mindoro were tested, according to a DA official.

“Whether may brand po o hindi, it’s still very early or premature to conclude na ‘yun nga po ang resulta kasi mayroon pa po tayong susunod na imbestigasyon na ginagawa,” Agriculture Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan said.

“Nung mangumpiska po kasi ay napagsama-sama ng ating provincial veterinary 'yung mga nakumpiska so that actually, ‘yung protocal dapat masunod na paghiwa-hiwalayin,” Cayanan said in a press conference, noting that most of the confiscated products were homemade.

Agriculture spokesperson Noel Reyes bared that some of the meat products came from a medium-scale processor in Central Luzon.

PAMPI noted that the supposed manufacturer of the branded product is not a member of the association but “it is a reputable medium-sized company.”

It has not yet been established whether the homemade or the branded processed meat was the contaminant, he added.

The DA will now collect accurate samples from the actual sources of the products.

Cayanan said that once the tests are complete, the DA will hand over the results to the FDA, which will determine if a recall is necessary or not. (with reports from GMA News)