Cancún’s Meat Products Under Scrutiny: Urgent Review Required

There's a pressing need to establish a task force with representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Sagarpa) to investigate the state of meat products entering Cancún. This is according to Julio de Jesús Méndez Paniagua, councilor of Benito Juárez Municipality and president of the Commission for Public Health, Social Assistance and Animal Protection.

Currently, there's uncertainty about whether meat products are being imported from the neighboring state of Yucatán and under what conditions. This lack of clarity has highlighted the need for a meeting with Sagarpa to provide a comprehensive report on the matter.

What is known, however, is that the majority of meat products are sourced from the municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas. This area is home to the closest slaughterhouse, where cattle and pig slaughters are conducted. These products meet the requirements of the Federal Commission for Protection Against Health Risks when sold to the public.

The issue is of critical importance due to the potential health risks associated with product contamination. As such, efforts should not only focus on monitoring products from other towns or states, but also on planning a well-structured project for a new Municipal Slaughterhouse.

Paniagua dismissed the idea of funding the project through the Participatory Budget, arguing that such funds should be reserved for community-proposed projects, not for tasks that the Municipality is obligated to fulfill, like the slaughterhouse.

Instead, he suggested that the relevant commissions should collaborate on a project for a municipal slaughterhouse that meets all requirements and guarantees the safety of its products. While this project may not be realized during the current administration, it could be prepared for the next one. Some councilors will continue in their roles, providing an opportunity for them to follow up and see the project through to completion.