By Chito Chavez
Several weeks before the holiday season, Quezon City authorities have renewed their call for the public to strictly scrutinize the expiry dates of the food products sold in groceries and wet markets to avoid irreparable health issues.
Quezon City Logo (MANILA BULLETIN)
Councilor Victor Ferrer Jr.and Allan Francisco issued the caution as stalls, kiosks and other retail and wholesale stores selling Christmas food items have started to mushroom in the city.
Due to the hard times, Ferrer and Francisco noted that some are scouring food outlets in a bid to buy as much grocery items and other foodstuffs at discounted prices.
Ferrer explained that there is nothing wrong with the advance purchase but warned the buyers not to be swayed in purchasing expired canned goods, processed meat products and similar items since serving them would put the health of their families and guests in great risk.
He asked the public to obtain their grocery items and food products at reputable supermarkets, groceries and wet markets to ensure that they are safe for consumption.
For his part, Francisco also urged the city government to create a special team that will run after syndicated groups that remove the labels of expired products passing them off as food items fit for human consumption.
He asked concerned local officials and national government agencies to be “up on their toes’’ in monitoring all food items being sold to the public to prevent possible epidemics throughout the year.
“Buyers especially the poor are enticed on buying food items for the holidays at highly discounted prices,’’ Francisco said.
Francisco noted shrewd traders and unscrupulous businessmen see this as great opportunities to tamper with the expiry dates and labels of the expired canned goods to enrich themselves at the expense of the public. .
Both councilors also asked the consumers to be suspicious of cheap processed meat like frankfurters, hams, bacon, hotdogs, longganisa, tocino, tapa and other Christmas goodies.
In the past, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) repeatedly warned the public against health concerns when consuming expired food products like canned goods.