BOTCHA

 

Leviticus 17:15

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And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean.

Deuteronomy 14:21

Viewing the 1769 King James Version. Click to switch to 1611 King James Version of Deuteronomy 14:21

Ye shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.

MANILA, Philippines - Warning! Eating "botcha" or meat from diseased pigs could lead to death. Dr. Eric Tayag, officer-in-charge of the Department of Health National Epidemiology Center, said people who eat the meat of diseased pigs could contract all sorts of illnesses, which may lead to death. Among the illnesses that one could get from "botcha" are diarrhea and sepsis. "Worms from the pig could go to the brain and cause seizures that could lead to death. If the bacteria is a mild one, it may cause diarrhea," he said. He said that even if the meat is cooked, there is no assurance that all of the bacteria has died.  He warned that one could get food poisoning if the food preparation was not handled properly. Tayag advised the public to be careful when buying meat especially now that chemicals may be mixed in the meat to remove its foul smell. He said it is important to make sure that the meat bought was inspected by the National Meat Inspection Service. He said the meat should be firm and grayish-pink in color. He said the meat should also be properly cooked. Local officials of Bulacan province earlier called for tougher laws against the illegal transport and trade of "botcha" or double dead meat. Pandi, Bulacan Mayor Enrique Roque said many people are enticed to the illegal trade of hot meat because the law is weak for violators. At present, those arrested for selling and transporting of hot meat violates an ordinance with a penalty ranging from P1,000 to P5,000. An early-morning raid at a piggery in Pandi, Bulacan on Thursday led to the seizure of tons of "botcha." Piggery workers in the raided warehouse were caught in the act while turning the double-dead meat into "lechon" to hide traces of the meat being "botcha." Gelogd

Re:* DOH: Eating 'botcha' can cause illness, death « Antwoord #1 Gepost op: 12 November 2010, 12:02:48 » How do you know it's 'botcha'? ABS-CBN News  11/12/2010  MANILA, Philippines - Double-dead pork or "botcha" has been in the news lately for being smuggled and sold in public markets. Not only is it being peddled as "fresh" pork, it is now also being sold as "lechon." An early-morning raid at a piggery in Pandi, Bulacan on Thursday led to the seizure of tons of "botcha." Piggery workers in the raided warehouse were caught in the act while turning the double-dead meat into "lechon" to hide traces of the meat being "botcha." To add insult to injury, chopped pieces of the "lechong botcha" were simply strewn on the piggery floor, where stray dogs were also found moving about, eating bits of "botcha" as they pleased. Pig intestines, also found on the floor, were being chopped into what looked like the makings of the popular dish "sisig". And in a nearby pen was a dirty and obviously sick piglet, with swollen red eyes. The local government of Bulacan has since burned all of the seized "botcha". Authorities have again given a stern warning to the public to be cautious of the meat they buy, after the piggery's workers admitted to plans of delivering the "botcha" to marketplaces in Metro Manila, particularly the Paco and Blumentritt Market in Manila, and the Mega Q-Mart in Quezon City. How to spot 'botcha' The good news? "Botcha" is recognizable, even to the ordinary market-goer. What to watch out for when buying meat Aside from "botcha" or double-dead pork that's pale, smells bad, and easily 'crumbles', there are other meats consumers should watch out for. Avoid buying the following: 1. old and decomposing meat and chicken - smell bad, green in color, slimy when touched - often ground and used in longganisa with lots of garlic to mask the bad taste and smell - sometimes marinated in tawas overnight to bring back the reddish "fresh" color and remove the bad odor 2. imported pork, beef and chicken not inspected by the National Meat Inspection Service - frozen and sold in boxes - should be used only for processing hot dog, ham, and other canned meats, according to the Philippine Association of Meat Processors, Inc. (PAMPI) To be assured of the safety of the meat you're buying, avoid meat being sold at cheap prices. It's best to buy only from your "suki" or regular vendor whom you can trust. -- based on a TV Patrol report by Winnie Cordero, ABS-CBN News The bad news? There's no telling which market "botcha" could be smuggled into next. But can the ordinary buyer actually distinguish "botcha" from fresh meat? Atty. Jane Bacayo, Executive Director of the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), said yes. Bacayo advises the public to look out for the following characteristics, and if the meat being sold displays any or all of these, it could very well be double-dead: - meat is pale, sometimes taking on a bluish or greenish tinge; - meat smells bad, with a stench stronger than the ordinary smell of slaughtered meat; and, - the hair and skin have not been properly cleaned, since "botcha" is often butchered in a hurry before the meat hardens. Bacayo compares the pale color of "botcha" meat to the pinkish hue of fresh meat, which sometimes still has blood on it. But buyers at a local market in Quezon City said they need no further description, since they know for themselves what "botcha" looks like. "If you ask me, I know I can't be fooled. The color of 'botcha' is a dead giveaway compared to fresh pork," said buyer Max Marasigan at the Kamuning Public Market. "Just one sniff and you'll know it's 'botcha', even if they try to convince you it's fresh!" added buyer Clarissa Cariaga. And buyer Ed de Jesus said, "I used to be a security guard at a slaughterhouse so I know. 'Botcha' is sticky and slippery." Health danger But although it's a good thing that buyers know fresh meat from "botcha," the NMIS said it's only right, since there is no telling which market the "botcha" may land in next. "The smuggling of 'botcha' changes markets, switches places, to give authorities a hard time detecting it," said Bacayo. "But I can say this: Every single market has sold 'botcha' at one point or another." Bacayo explained further that while there is no danger of the sick pig's disease actually transferring to the person who eats its double-dead meat, persons who eat "botcha" will still most likely suffer from diarrhea and vomiting, because they will ingest the bacteria coming from the contaminated pig's blood. "In a dead animal, the contamination of blood is fast. And 'botcha' meat is often slaughtered in a hurry, with no time to properly drain the pig's blood. The worst that could happen is one could suffer from food poisoning, and die from contamination," said Bacayo. NMIS reminded the public to avoid "botcha" at all costs, despite the allure of being sold at a much lower price than fresh meat. "What good is lower-priced meat, if you'll be sacrificing your safety and your loved one's health in exchange for it?" asked NMIS. Gelogd

Re:* DOH: Eating 'botcha' can cause illness, death « Antwoord #2 Gepost op: 18 November 2010, 17:45:23 » Public warned of ‘botcha’ in processed meat products Manila Times , 19 November 2010 THE public should be more careful in purchasing or consuming “generic” processed meat products being sold in the market because there is a possibility that double dead meat or “botcha” was used to make the product. This was learned after Quezon City chief veterinarian Ana Maria Cabel admitted that there is now way to tell if the meat used in process meat products like, longaniza (sausage) tocino, embotido and the likes is botcha. But Cabel in a press conference held at the Quezon City hall assured that the city government is doing everything is could to stop the proliferation of double dead meats especially in Balintawak market, a known drop off point of hot meats. In fact, she said, city authorities were able to confiscate a total of 11.6 tons of double dead meats in several operations from September to November conducted at the Balintawak Market. The intensified campaign against double dead meat also led to the closure of three privately owned markets in the Balintawak after having found in violation of existing rules and regulations on sanitation and safety of the public. “Our operation against double dead meat is being conducted regularly to discourage unscrupulous traders from selling illegal meats which pose danger to the public,” Cabel said. To make sure that process meat products are not tainted with hot meats, Cabel said that there will be a continuous monitoring of meat processing plants in the city and make sure that they have the proper permits and license to support their operation. At present individuals found guilty of selling hot meats only face six months detention and fine of P2,000 to P10,000. Jefferson Antiporda