The Department of Agriculture (DA) said smuggled onions recently intercepted and seized at the Mindanao International Container Terminal will be destroyed as recommended by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) after samples tested positive for the Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria.
The DA said in a statement on Sunday the Bureau of Customs, upon request by the DA-Inspectorate and Enforcement Office and the BPI, intercepted a container van carrying about 25 metric tons of onions, misdeclared as processed foods such as egg noodles and pizza dough.
The agency said the shipment arrived on May 26 from China, with Manila-based Latinx Consumer Goods Trading listed as consignee.
In its report to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., the BPI stated that “the presence of E. coli at borderline indicates possible fecal contamination, often associated with poor sanitary conditions during handling and post-harvest practices, and may pose potential health risks if not addressed.”
The BPI warned of “increased health risk to consumers,” if contaminated produce were distributed, “especially when eaten raw and uncooked.”
Under customs regulations, contaminated perishable goods like fresh or frozen produce must be destroyed, returned to the sender, or shipped to a third country.
Tiu Laurel said the smuggled onions were not fit for human consumption, especially since consuming E. coli–contaminated food could cause severe gastrointestinal illness and in extreme cases, could be life-threatening.
The DA said this action followed recent inspections at the Port of Manila, where six container vans of onions and frozen fish were found misdeclared. This further prompted a DA request to the BOC to withhold the release of 59 container vans at the Subic Bay Freeport, which were also suspected of containing smuggled agricultural products.
The agency further warned that in these cases, the government would strictly enforce the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Law to protect both consumers and farmers in the country.
Based on the DA’s monitoring of public markets in the National Capital Region on Friday, July 4, the prices of local red onion ranged from P100 to P170 per kilogram while local white onion sold for P85 to P150 per kg.
