Mekeni Food says factory remains closed for ASF disinfection

The operations of Mekeni Food Corp.’s pork-based processing area remain suspended for cleaning and disinfection, as a couple of its products have tested positive of the African Swine Fever (ASF), the company said Monday.

“Operations of our pork-based processing area had been suspended since 26 October 2019, and the facility has been cleansed and disinfected,” it said in an emailed statement.

“A third-party company had also been engaged to do swabbing and testing of the facility before we resume operations,” it added.

Earlier on Monday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) confirmed that Mekeni Food’s longganisa and hotdog products tested positive of ASF.

“While only specific batches were found to have DNA traces of ASF, all of our pork-based products have already been pulled out from our selling areas when we initiated a voluntary recall last October 26, 2019,” Mekeni Food said.

“These products are currently quarantined and a batch sampling has been submitted to an independent laboratory for ASF testing. We are still waiting for the results of these tests,” it added.

The company said it will work with the government to keep the ASF from spreading further.

“We will also continue to work with the Bureau of Animal Industry, National Meat Inspection Service, and the Food and Drug Administration, as well as other industry stakeholders for the implementation of a more comprehensive plan to mitigate the spread of the ASF,” it said.

In the same statement, the company reiterated that while ASF is deadly to hogs, it does pose any danger to human health.

“We continue to echo statements from the Department of Health that ASF does not pose any danger to human health. We will continue to support the efforts being done by the government to enhance public awareness on the ASF to address the public scare on the consumption of pork products,” it said. —VDS, GMA News