In the name of Transparency! MEETING ON “FAKE” VINEGAR AFTER ACTIVITY REPORT BY DA

Submitted by Dr. Vivencio Mamaril

Director, Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards

Department of Agriculture

The Inter-Agency Meeting which discussed the raging issue of “fake” vinegar in the Philippine markets was held yesterday at the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS) office of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

In attendance were- DA-BAFS, DA-Office of the Asst. Secretary for Regulations, Department of Health-Food and Drug Administration, Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Nuclear Research Institut, and Department of Trade and Industry-Consumer Protection Office.

Highlights of the meeting:

The PNRI reported the following:

1. Their research started in 2000 and semi-completed in 2003 due to financial constraints;

2. The research was continued in 2017 when they had funding from DOST-PCIERD;

3. The objective of the study is to develop and validate a procedure that will determine the presence of synthetic acetic acid in vinegar;

4. Their research is not published nor peer-reviewed;

5. They submitted their 2003 research findings to FDA and allegedly, FDA din not reply, and at the end PNRI decided to go public disclosing their findings from their 2017 research.

Dr. Flerida Carino, a retired chemistry professor, Chemist and Toxicologist discussed at length during the meeting that the biogenic or non-biogenic acetic acid has no health issues and PNRI agreed.

PNRI admitted that they were just over passionate to claim about the possible presence of contaminants in non-biogenic acetic acid po that may be carcinogenic or cause degenerative disease. Meaning, binawi nila and statement na ito po.

Moving forward, the findings of the PNRI study will trigger the review and revision of the 1970 AO of DOH po.

The DA reiterated the promotion of coco water to be used as the main ingredient for the production of vinegar.

PNRI did not submit or disclose the brand names.

DTI said that their only concern is the price.

FDA can not name the brands pending the submission of PNRI’s full research which when submitted, FDA will subject to quality evaluation.

Dr. Vivencio Mamaril

Director, Bureau of Agriculture

and Fisheries Standards, DA