VIB to ensure safe meat in markets

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza ordered the Veterinary Inspection Board (VIB) to ensure only safe and quality meat products are sold in the city by strictly inspecting all products before they reach the markets.

Atienza issued the directive following reports that the demand of meat products has started to increase this Yuletide season.

"We are sure that all meat and meat products being sold in Manila have been inspected and comply with quality standards set forth by the National Meat Inspection Commission," said Jose Diaz, city veterinarian and chairman of the VIB.

Diaz advised consumers to buy only meat products with the stamp of inspection of the NMIC or the VIB.

Atienza also said that veterinarians and meat inspectors have been deployed to guard against "hot meat," sold by the unscrupulous; and that the ability of inspectors to detect "hot meat" and keep abreast of the latest global trends in meat inspection, hygiene and quality is being upgraded. – Cecille Suerte Felipe