MORE than 2,000 canned goods from countries affected by African Swine Fever (ASF) have been pulled out by the Cebu City’s Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) from different supermarkets in the last two days.
Dr. Alice Utlang of the DVMF, said the operation is in compliance with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Order 2019-046, ordering all importers, distributors, retail outlets and other dealers to immediately recall pork meat products imported from countries suspected to be affected by the ASF virus.
Pork products manufactured in Russia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Moldova, South Africa, Zambia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Belgium, Latvia, Poland, Romania, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Mongolia, Vietnam and Cambodia starting Aug. 25, 2018 were recalled.
Utlang said that last Wednesday, May 29, six supermarkets were inspected by inspectors from the Public Health Division of the DVMF.
Two had already voluntarily removed imported canned goods before inspectors arrived.
A total of 1,009 canned goods were recalled.
Last Thursday, May 30, the team inspected eight supermarkets and withdrew 1,166 canned goods.
Most of the imported processed pork products that were recalled were Ma Ling luncheon meat and Great Wall ham.
“We did not confiscate the canned goods. The supermarkets kept them but we sealed and marked them that they were no longer for sale. According to the supermarket managers, they will return the canned goods to the suppliers,” Utlang said.
Supermarket managers were also made to sign an undertaking that the pulled out canned goods would no longer be sold.
Utlang said they will not limit their inspection to leading supermarkets. They will also check public markets, convenience stores and sari-sari stores, she said. (RVC)