‘Hot meat’ seized during week-long festivity

It may have been a very busy week for the Cebu City government last week but the city’s Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries made sure it continues to work for the safety of everyone.

On January 15, DVMF’s Public Health Division was able to confiscate 43.64 kilos of dressed chicken and 42.69 kilos of pork from one of mountain barangays here in the city.

This after the seller failed to present the Meat Inspection Certificate upon inspection.

Aside from that, there was also no Meat Dealer Registration found.

Without such a certificate, it is considered as “hot meat” or those considered as slaughtered by non-accredited meat establishments.

Vendors selling hot meat violate Republic Act 9296 or the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines and City Ordinance No. 2189, according to DVMF.

DVMF also went to supermarkets, malls, and warehouses during this Fiesta Señor Sto. Nino celebration for a surprise inspection.

DVMF’s Enforcement Team succeeded as last January 19, they were able to confiscate imported meats in undisclosed locations.

The latest confiscation included 144 kilos of pork, 84 kilos of beef, and 26 kilos of dressed chicken.

DVMF found inconsistencies in the document presented.

Upon inspection, based on the Certificate of Meat Importation presented, the said meat products were already expired last December 2023 yet.

With this, DVMF said it is already “unfit for human consumption and subject for confiscation based on RA 9296, A.O. 6 and CO 2189”.

Along with this, DVMF advised everyone to “always check the label”.