The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday warned the public against buying smuggled or illegally imported onions after samples collected last week from the Paco Public Market in Manila tested positive for E. coli bacteria.
“This is a food safety issue and a clear threat to public health,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement.
“We will order the confiscation of those onions as required under the Food Safety Act of 2013,” he added.
Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban said he has formally informed the Manila local government unit about the test results from the Paco market samples, which indicated possible fecal contamination and poor sanitation in the handling and processing of the red onions.
According to Mayo Clinic, E. coli can cause diarrhea, stomach cramping, nausea, and vomiting. These symptoms may appear three or four days after exposure to the bacteria.
“To protect the public and consumers from food-borne illnesses and unsanitary conditions, we recommend the confiscation of the said commodities,” Panganiban wrote in his letter to the Manila LGU.
The DA has not issued any permits for onion imports, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to safeguard local farmers, who have just completed their harvest.
Tiu Laurel also instructed the BPI and other DA units monitoring public markets to be on alert for suspected smuggled onions and to immediately submit any samples for testing.
Last week, Tiu Laurel asked the assistance of the Philippine National Police in gathering intelligence to apprehend onion smugglers.
Meanwhile, a separate shipment of 25 metric tons of red onions, intercepted by the BPI and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Mindanao International Container Terminal in Misamis Oriental, will also be tested for contaminants—including heavy metals, pesticide residues, and harmful bacteria.
The DA will ask the BOC to turn them over for government redistribution if they are determined to be safe for consumption. — VBL, GMA Integrated News
