Is Adulterant Food or Poison?

by ERNESTO T. SOLIDUM

Chapter II, section 12 (b) of Municipal Ordinance No. 312, Series of 2012, entitled “An Ordinance Enacting the Sanitation Code” of the Municipality of Malay approved on March 27, 2012 says: “Adulterated food is food that contains any “poisonous or deleterious” substance in a quantity that may render it injurious to health or has been processed, prepared, packed or held under unsanitary condition where valuable nutrients have been in part or in whole omitted thereof.”

Apparently, the above definition refers to melamine, an industrial chemical added to milk to enhance protein readings that consequently leads to infant deaths in China. It is also an additive to animal feeds being used for the last 40 years resulting to deaths of livestock. Clearly, this is a criminal offense sanctioned by both US and Philippines Food and Drug Administrations. 

The actual definition of adulterants is substances that make products impure or inferior when added to a pure substance. (English dictionary, New edition). Based on this info, adulterants are not exactly poisonous or deleterious per se because simply render manufactured goods inferior.

In fact, the Malay SB definition of adulterated food is only one of several definitions under Consumer Act of the Philippines (RA 7394) which include inferior substances added to the non-poisonous products, where valuable nutrients have been in part or in whole omitted. 

The Department of Trade and Industry requires producers of commercial goods to list all ingredients in their package labels whether by volume or weight (Labeling Law). This allows consumers to be aware of ingredients or adulterants if any and corresponding nutrition facts. Net contents will show dry weight minus the packaging material. 

Since adulterants are accepted norms in commerce and industry, some manufacturers engage in this practice to lower production cost in the face of competition, to enhance certain flavor or increase acceptability of taste, color and texture.

Brewed coffee is oftentimes mixed with soybeans and other grains which can be acceptable to consumers. However, for connoisseurs, one way to determine adulterant is to float while genuine coffee sinks to the bottom of the cup. Of course one can’t be deceived by its inherent aroma and taste. 

Other products locally manufactured like corned beef where the main ingredient is mixed with carabeef. It is also those who are accustomed to imported canned meat products who discern what is genuine or fake. Certainly, you pay higher price for premium quality. 

On the basis of the above info, proper rectification regarding the adding non poisonous substances as adulterants be made on enacted Ordinance of the Municipality of Malay. This particular provision in the statute may have been overlooked and intended to forestall confusion in law enforcement. /MP