Author : Paredes, Joel C.

Summary : The National Meat Inspection Commission, which is in charge of surveillance, prevention and control of food-borne disease, says that it is now requiring microbiological analysis to assess the quality and safety of food prior to public consumption. This usually involves employing the conventional method of detecting pathogenic microorganisms. This method, however, is quite laborious and time-consuming. Lately, the agency has ventured into a new procedure - which is accurate and rapid - in identifying these pathogens. DNA-based assays are now used for identification. These methods rely on the nucleic acid composition of the bacterium rather than the phenotypic expressions that may be variable under culture conditions. The central meat laboratory of the National Meat Inspection Services (NMIS) headed by Dr. Criselda Pagluanan says that because of the new procedure, they were able to issue clearance within two days, compared to five days using the traditional methods. They have started using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), molecular based screening and detection of bacterial pathogen. The NMIC's new biotechnology laboratory near Visayas avenue in Quezon City caters to 20 slaughterhouses in Metro Manila.