Maggots found in bulalo shocks couple in El Nido
Upon closer inspection, it can be seen that the larvae are floating in the bulalo soup, which emerged from the beef meat after it was sliced. | Photo by Karl Jarre Buyante.
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — A couple dining at a restaurant in the town of El Nido were recently shocked to find maggots in the broth of the bulalo (beef shank and bone marrow soup) they ordered as they sliced the beef.
The incident gained widespread attention in El Nido just before Christmas after Karl Jarre Buyante, a resident of Puerto Princesa City, posted a photo this post was subsequently published on 24 December in the El Nido Forum, a platform dedicated to various topics concerning the town.
In the shared photo, small white larvae can be seen floating in the half-finished bulalo.
"Today in El Nido, I had a disappointing experience at a Bulalo restaurant. My girlfriend and I were quite shocked when we found multiple larvae floating up from the inside of the meat in our dish," he stated.
While not identifying the restaurant, Buyante appealed to local food establishments in the town to ensure the cleanliness of the dishes they are selling and serving customers.
He stressed the critical need for clean and safe food in local restaurants, especially given El Nido's heavy reliance on tourism.
"I'm making this post as a reminder to all local restaurant owners and employees: Serving [clean] and safe food is at least a [basic] necessity. El Nido thrives on tourism, and issues like this should not be overlooked. Please, let's uphold high standards in food hygiene for the well-being of our guests and the reputation of our community," Buyante added.
In response on 26 December, El Nido's Municipal Health Officer, Dr. Jo-Ann Huerto, expressed their intention to tackle the recent social media report.
Yet, due to the lack of detailed information from the complainant necessary for an investigation, they are presently unable to take action on the complaint.
"We want to assure the public that we are taking this matter seriously. The Municipal Health Office is actively reaching out to the individual who posted the claims on social media in order to gather more information and investigate the incident thoroughly. We believe that it is crucial to have all the necessary details and evidence in order to take appropriate measures," Huerto said.