(NI KIKO CUETO)

TINIYAK ng Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) na ligtas ang mga processed meat na kanilang ibinebenta laban sa African swine fever (ASF).

“We assure and guarantee our consumers that we do not import pork materials from countries that have been infected by the ASF virus,” sinabi ni PAMPI president Felix O. Tiukinhoy Jr., sa isang pahayag.

“For local supply, we purchase only pork cuts that have been certified by the National Meat Inspection Service to be free from any disease. We strictly adhere to internationally accepted and recognized standards of food safety and manufacturing practices,” dagdag nito.

Sinabi ni Tiukinhoy na dumaan sa tamang proseso ang lahat ng kanilang produkto at ang mga pinagkukunan nila ay mga malilinis at ligtas.

“All our cooked and/or smoked processed meat products are subjected to temperatures ranging from 70 to 116 degrees Celsius for 40 to 60 minutes. At these high temperatures, harmful bacteria and viruses, including ASF virus if any, are killed and destroyed,” sinabi ng PAMPI.

“Hence, our processed meat products cannot be carriers of the ASF virus,” dagdag nila.

Ang ASF ay isang uri ng virus na nakahahawa sa mga hayop pero hindi naisasalin sa mga tao.

Nakikiisa naman ang PAMPI sa lahat ng uri ng pamamaraan para masawata o matigil ang pagkalat ng ASF sa bansa.

“Unfortunately, during the past two weeks, the movement, distribution and sale of processed meat products were banned by some local government units (LGUs) on the mistaken belief and unfounded fear that they will cause harm to their hog raisers. However, such move has absolutely no basis in fact and science,” sinabi ni Tiukinhoy.

Hiniling na rin ng PAMPI sa sa LGUs na muling irekonsidera ang ban.

Matatandaang naghigpit ang mga LGU sa paglabas-masok ng mga karneng baboy sa kanilang lugar.