Mekeni to determine source of ASF-positive pork products

Mekeni Food Corporation, embattled with the African swine fever (ASF) issue, on Monday vowed to trace the source of the virus that was recently found in samples of its skinless longganisa and hotdog.

"Despite this unfortunate development, we assure government that we will continue to cooperate in its ongoing investigation to determine the source of ASF," it said in a statement.

The company underscored that it has always fully complied with all regulations and certifications set by authorities in the past 32 years of its operations.

According to Mekeni, all the pork-based products it pulled out from the market on October 26 were already quarantined.

"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.

Mekeni further said its pork-based processing area has been cleansed and disinfected. The production of its processed pork products remains suspended and some tests will still be conducted before it resumes.

The Department of Agriculture confirmed on Monday that samples from two of Mekeni's products tested positive of ASF.

The source of the raw meats that Mekeni used will be the subject of the next investigations, according to the Bureau of Animal Industry. —Dona Magsino/KG, GMA News