More than ₱14 million worth of smuggled onions from China have been confirmed to test positive for Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella by the DOH.
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said the contaminated onions are a health threat to the people, adding that smuggled food items threaten food security and may cause illnesses with serious consequences.
This was discovered after a joint inspection on June 10 by the Bureau of Customs, DOH, FDA, and DA. The shipment had been held on account of recent months’ raids on misdeclared agricultural goods.
Initially declared as assorted food items like eggs, noodles, and kimchi, the shipments arrived from China on May 27 and June 1, 2025. However, the containers, upon investigation, contained red onions, white onions, and frozen mackerel. Authorities have estimated the total market value of the seized goods at over ₱34 million.
Due to the increased threat of agricultural smuggling to food safety and public health, the DOH and its partner agencies reiterated calls for stricter border control and stiffer penalties against agricultural smuggling.
Investigations are ongoing to identify those behind the smuggling activities and ensure that the contaminated items are safely disposed of.
