Two butcher shops in the province of Panamá Oeste are under monitoring by the Ministry of Health (MINSA) after it was found that they were selling beef without documents to certify its origin. Both commercial establishments were detected during operations carried out weeks ago by the Directorate of Food Control and Veterinary Surveillance. Monitoring of both butcher shops continues despite the owners having provided purchase invoices in recent inspections that indicate the origin of the product. Nilka Gálvez, head of the Directorate of Food Control and Veterinary Surveillance of MINSA in Panamá Oeste, added that the establishments inspected in these operations are chosen at random. These operations aim to verify the origin of the meats for sale due to suspicions of the marketing of stolen livestock and animals slaughtered in unsanitary conditions. She added that consuming any type of meat of dubious origin is risky for the population due to the diseases people can contract. In the province of Panamá Oeste, the Ministry of Health, the Prosecutor's Office of the Nation, and livestock farm owners are promoting a digital guide for animal transport and slaughter. This is with the aim of strengthening the strategic investigations of the Public Ministry and minimizing the impact of livestock theft.
