Pork and pork products are safe to eat.

This was the joint declaration of Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William D. Dar and Department fo Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco T. Duque after partaking different pork dishes at a boodle fight on September 9, 2019.

The boodle fight was shared by officials and representatives from DA and DOH, hog stakeholders, and members of the private sector.

Secretary Dar stressed that as long as the hogs passed through the proper process of slaughtering and preparation, the public should not fear eating pork. Before slaughtering, a hog is validated and assessed by a veterinarian, who then issues a medical certificate. Once slaughtered, the meats are stamped with a seal from the National Meat Inspection Service, assuring that is has passed the food safety measures imposed by the government.

Secretary Duque, for his part, declared that local meat does not impose a threat to human health, and reiterated that as long as it is prepared and cooked properly, it is safe for human consumption. ### (DA-AFID)