DOH warns vs contaminated halo-halo this summer

Now that it’s summertime, Filipinos tend to indulge in cool, refreshing treats to beat the heat. The Department of Health (DOH), however, said the public should take caution before scooping up and savoring the popular Filipino dessert halo-halo as it could get easily contaminated.

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa issued the reminder after at least 10 people in Kidapawan City were reportedly brought to a hospital for stomach ache and vomiting, allegedly due to the halo-halo they ate.

The Health chief said that it was important for people to know the process of how the dessert is being made, as well as the source of its ingredients.

“Ang problema, ang halo-halo ‘di ba may mga matamis ‘yun, tapos iiwan natin doon sa init ng araw tapos pupunta ka doon bibilhin mo… If the amount of sugar is not high, pwedeng tubuan ng bacteria ‘yun. Pwede siyang ma-contaminate and mag-cause ng acute gastroenteritis,” Herbosa said.

(The problem is, it has various sweet ingredients that are usually left in the heat of the sun. If the amount of sugar is not high, bacteria may grow. The halo-halo can be contaminated and cause acute gastroenteritis.)

“The other thing is the ice. Kung minsan galing sa ice factory na hindi naman malinis. It’s not the filtered water or the potable water… It’s meant for ice chest ng mga isda or karne,” he added.

(The other thing is the ice. Sometimes, it comes from an ice factory that is not clean. It’s not the filtered water or the potable water that’s being used. That ice is meant for the ice chest of fish or meat.)

Aside from the sweets and ice, he also said that spoiled milk could also be a source of stomach distress among consumers of halo-halo.

“Ang milk, kapag hindi naka-refrigerate, after several hours, sira na ‘yun lalo na kung mainit ang panahon. Dapat nanggagaling sa ref ‘yun,” Herbosa said.

(If the milk is not refrigerated, it gets spoiled after several hours, especially if the weather is hot. It must be stored in the fridge.)

Herbosa said that during the warm and dry season, cases of diarrhea, as well as other food and water-borne diseases, usually increase.

Halo-halo’s ingredients usually include sweetened bananas, jackfruit, nata de coco, sweet potatoes, red mung beans, and jellies. These are buried in shaved ice, topped with leche flan and ube jam, drizzled with evaporated milk. — VDV, GMA Integrated News