China ‘meat’ scare spares Phl fastfood chain outlets

CEBU, Philippines - While McDonald's pulled out key products from its menu in some of its outlets in China, the "bad meat" scandal however has not in any way affected the fastfood chain's operations in the Philippines.

In a statement sent to The FREEMAN yesterday, McDonald's Philippines communications manager Meryl AdielTimbol said, "we would like to assure our customers that McDonald's Philippines and its stores all over the country is not affected by this issue."

Timbol assured those concerned that the company does not source any of their products from the China factory supplier involved in the recent expired meat controversy.

She also explained that food safety is always the corporation's top priority and that practicing strict compliance with consumer safety laws and regulation is definitely a must for all food businesses.

The company said its Philippine branches have different local meat suppliers for beef, chicken, pork and fish products.

"It would be a list of suppliers - for example, we have a different supplier for our bone in chicken McDo and our crispy chicken fillet," she said when asked who their meat suppliers are.

The manager cited the Philippine-based GenOSI, Inc. as the company's exclusive supplier of processed meat requirements; San Miguel Foods, Inc., the food division of San Miguel Corporation, is also one of its meat providers.

"An example would be GenOSI and SMFI. GenOSI is the supplier for our beef, pork and fish and SMFI for chicken," she further added.

Business as usual

The FREEMAN likewise visited yesterday some of the Cebu branches of fastfood brands whose outlets in China have also been hit by the meat scare.

Since the day when the news about the food scandal broke out, branches of KFC in Cebu have so far not received any notice from the firm's head office, said Diana Lanog, branch manager of KFC Ayala branch.

"Actually, maayo ra ang operations sa among branch ug complete among menu," she said.

Lanog said KFC's chicken products are sourced from SMFI.

Alma Toriano, assistant manager of McDonald's Escario branch, also confirmed the supply chain of their business operations has been normal - and no abnormalities have been observed recently.

"Yes, nakadungog mi ana nga balita but we would like to inform our customers nga okay ang supply namo," she said, noting that business should continue as usual.

A Cebu outlet of coffee chain Starbucks declined to comment on the issue, saying it still has to ask for updates from its Manila head office on the matter.

Though, Keren Tiongson, one of its managers, hinted the coffee shop's operations have remained normal. 

Other McDonald's and KFC store managers in Cebu also confirmed to The FREEMAN that their meat products are not sourced from any factory in China and assured the recent controversy would not affect their Philippine stores.

Earlier reports stated that US-based meat supplier OSI Group has suspended operations at its Chinese subsidiary after media reports said it has been involved to China's latest food scandal.

Shanghai Husi Food Co., OSI's China factory, failed to comply with the corporation's safety standards, OSI found out after an internal investigation following reports that Shanghai Husi was selling expired meat to some fast-food chains.

The factory's fast-food purchasers in China were McDonald's, KFC, coffee shop Starbucks, Burger King, Pizza Hut, among others. (FREEMAN)