THE Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) of Negros Occidental has allayed fears on possible proliferation of “double-dead” meat among local markets during the holiday season.
Dr. Ryan Janoya, head of the Animal Health and Meat Inspection Services of the PVO, Friday, December 20, said they have not received reports on the presence of “double-dead” meat in localities in the province excluding Bacolod City.
Janoya said the Negros Occidental capital city has its own task force, the Task Force Botagoy, monitoring the meat products sold in the market.
“Our Provincial Task Force on African Swine Fever (ASF) has included in their market monitoring and inspection the possible proliferation of double-dead meat products,” he said, adding that through its intensified operation, the public are assured that meat products sold at the market comply with the standards.
Double-dead are those livestock and poultry animals which have died due to disease, then slaughtered and sold as fresh meat.
Even though there’s no reported presence of “double-dead” products in the local market, the PVO has again urged consumers to be vigilant and watchful in buying meat as “unscrupulous” vendors may take advantage of the busy market situation especially when the demand is at peak.
PVO reminded consumers that in order to ensure safety and quality of the products they are buying, they should look for meat inspection certificate posted at every market stalls.
Meat products should also have stamps from dressing plants and slaughterhouses. Without these, the products have not passed through the required inspection, it added.
Janoya alerted the public that it is easy to determine double-dead meat just by looking at the product’s appearance.
Janoya said double-dead meat is usually smelly and looks pale even if it is frozen, unlike the fresh meat that looks pinkish. It has blood clot even when frozen.
For chicken in particular, these are normally evident on wing and thigh parts.
“Double-dead meat is dangerous as it could cause poisoning if consumed by human because chemicals could have been used for initial treatment of the animals,” he said.