Ma-ling products removed from market: Virus-infested canned goods?

CEBU, Philippines — At least 1,009 pieces of popular canned luncheon meat brand Ma-Ling have been removed from shelves of four supermarkets in Cebu City yesterday because they come from countries suspected to be affected by the African Swine Fever virus.

The City’s Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries did not say from which countries exactly the stocks came from but the countries suspected to have been penetrated by the virus are Vietnam, Zambia, South Africa, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Mongolia, Moldova and Belgium, China, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia and Ukraine.

DVMF chief, Dr. Alice Utlang, said her personnel inspected six supermarkets in the city’s downtown area, two of which have already withdrawn the Ma-Ling products from their shelves.

“Not only stores but the public sad ug mga travelers from infected countries nga not to bring processed products. Consumers should buy local pork and don’t buy imported canned goods manufactured after Aug. 25, 2018,” Utlang told The FREEMAN.

The Food and Drug Administration has declared a temporary ban on the importation and distribution of pork meat products from countries suspected to be affected by the ASF virus.

It also ordered the recall and seizure of all processed pork meat products from these countries.

Utlang said her office will ensure that all supermarkets in the city will be inspected.

“We just showed the order from FDA and they are very cooperative coz they understand why gi-recall,” she said, referring to the supermarkets.

ASF is a viral disease of pigs, which does not have treatment, vaccinations, and is highly contagious.

Utlang said the ASF virus is not harmful to humans but it would affect the swine industries.

“We have to make sure nga di maka-sulod sa Pinas ug sa atong lugar ang ASF. We have to make sure nga di maapektahan ang P200 billion industry sa Pinas (We have to make sure tha the virus will not enter the country and affect our P200 billion industry,” she said.

There are at least 2,526 backyard breeders in Cebu City.

She urged the public to report to her office sick pigs.

“Please report to our office any pig that become sick nga nag hilanat og taas ug nag suka ug naay nag labhag ang panit (Please report to our office any pig that have high fever, are vomiting, and have welts on the skin),” she said. (FREEMAN)