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Groceries post BFAD list of safe milk products

By ISRAEL MALASA, ABS-CBN News | 10/04/2008 10:36 PM

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After the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) released the partial list of milk and milk-based products that are either free or contaminated with melamine, supermarkets in Metro Manila wasted no time in posting the advisory to inform consumers that most of the products sold in the establishments are safe.

However, the test result may have come a little too late for the Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association (PASA) which claimed experiencing significant loss of profit since the onset of the milk scare.

“Nag-isip muna ang mga mamimili bago bumili ng gatas,” said Steven Cua, PASA president.

Even some of the more popular milk products in the industry posted notices in the department stores, citing that their brands are safe for consumption.

The BFAD advisory may be positive news for the consumers but some are more discerning when buying certain products, nowadays.

Consumers like Maricel Alcuin would spend hours carefully scrutinizing the available milk products in a grocery store.

“Mas ligtas yun eh,” she said. “At least mabibili ko na ‘yung ligtas na produkto.”

But the 116 PASA members have yet to remove some of the Chinese products in their stalls until BFAD declares them unfit for consumption.

Canned goods like mushrooms, corned beef, and sotanghons made in China are still selling like hotcakes.

“Binibili ito ng mga mahihirap nating kababayan eh,” said Cua.

Local businessmen hope BFAD would release the results of other products being tested for melamine soon.