Food Safety in The Philippines

Since living in the Philippines for good, I have tried many times food also offered by street vendors. No problems at all!

Since the last study of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST Regional Office XI) and its director Dr. Anthony Sales, street vendors seem to remain unaffected by this study. Several street vendors here in Davao said they are still enjoying the patronage of the locals. 

Meanwhile Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte said banning in any parts of the city is not an option. Of course, go slow on street food, experts said after tests show germ traces. Authorities here cautioned the public against consuming street food in te wake of the results. People were told to wait until efforts to make street safe have been completed.

Already on January 12, 2012 food safety practitioners gathered for the multi-stakeholders forum of Promoting Food Industry Competitiveness Training  Program held at the Mariott Hotel in Pasay City.

During the forum, DOST XI Regional Director Dr. Anthony C. Sales was given the opportunity to discuss food safety initiatives in the region. Dr. Sales emphasized that there are three steps that must be pursued in dealing with food safety :

1. To have a Good Manufacturing Practices. The main issue here is that quality must be built in to a product not just tested in a product.

2. To conduct Hazard Analysis Critical Control points. This step deals with the safety of each product.

3. To have a food Safety Management System. This step is creating a food safety culture. 

After the forum Dr. Sales was optimistic, that the inputs of the stakeholders would be o great help in harmonizing initiatives towards achieving food safety in the whole Philippines. 

Dr. Sales also said, DOST would also lobby for the passage of an ordinance that would require vendors to submit samples of their food products before there are sold. He said a draft ordinance had been crafted with Davao councilor Pilar Praga, chair of the city's council's committee on trade, commerce and industry.]

Vendors, Sales said, should also be provided carts to keep their food safe. Each cart would cost from 10,000 till 20,000 Pesos and would be part of the DOST's assistancew program for street vendors.

Philippine Food - You Might NOT Like... .

I have been travelling around the world since the age of 16. I stayed in almost 65 countries worldwide. Sure, I learned to eat a lot of things. Many times, as a real newcomer I started shudder while tasting a new dish.

Of course, every country has some disgusting special food that foreigners are forced to eat. It's an invitation rite before strangers are allow to enter the new community. Here in Davao City/Mindanao, where I am residing since 1999 for good, one can find for example the fruit Durian (smells hell but tastes heaven!). Yeah, it's true... .

In other parts of the Philippines you might be forced to try cows stomach pickled in vinegar. Not such strange as monkey brain (China) or "drunken prawns" (Japan).

Back to the Philippines: here one can really find a first class disgusting dish, which is called BALUT! Heaven forbid! Give me a million, but I wouldn't try it again. Fear Factor! Yeah... .! Howard Belton, in the Philippines living U.S. columnist, voiced it out: "How can a good Catholic country enjoy eating aborted duck?"

Going native in the Philippines? Maybe - but without me... !

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Ein philippinisches Gericht (?), dass Sie bestimmt nicht moegen... .

Seit meinem 16. Lebensjahr bin ich einige Male um die Welt geflogen und habe mich in fast 65 Laendern aufgehalten. Klar, dabei habe ich gelernt, eine Menge Dinge zu essen. Tja, und als "Neuling" habe ich mich manches Mal geschuettelt und geekelt, wenn ich ein neues Gericht ausprobierte... .

Natuerlich hat jede Nation einige ekelhaftige Gerichte, die man trotzdem als Auslaender kosten soll. Man gehoert erst zur lokalen Gemeinschaft, wenn man es versucht hat. Hier in Davao City/Mindanao, wo ich seit 1999 permanent lebe, gibt es zum Beispiel die Frucht DURIAN (stinkt wie die Hoelle, schmeckt wie der Himmel!). Ja, und das stimmt wirklich!

In einigen anderen Gegenden der Philippinen bietet man Ihnen vielleicht Kuhmagen (in Essig eingelegt!) an. Das mag vielleicht nicht einmal so fremdartig sein wie Affenhirn (China) oder "betrunkener Hummer" (Japan).

Zurueck zu den Philippinen: hier findet man ein wirklich 1. Klasse (fuer mich ekel-erregendes) Gericht, das BALUT heisst. Ein sogenanntes "angebruetetes Entenei"! Also, man moege mir 'ne Million geben, aber mich kann niemand mehr ueberreden, das noch einmal zu probieren. Howard Belton, ein auf den Philippinen lebender U.S.-Kolumnist, hat es so ausgedrueckt: "Wie kann ein katholisch-religioeses Land ein fruehgeborenes Entenkueken im Ei essen!" Vielleicht ein wenig ueberspitzt formuliert, aber ICH versuche es NICHT noch einmal... !