Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. on Saturday warned consumers against purchasing imported white onions — typically larger than locally grown varieties — following the seizure in Pampanga of several tons of smuggled vegetables that have tested positive for salmonella and heavy metals.
Secretary Tiu Laurel said the Department of Agriculture (DA) has not authorized any white onion imports recently, aligning with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to protect local onion farmers and ensure public health is protected.
“If possible, please don’t buy imported onions because they may be contaminated with salmonella. These contaminated onions are not fit for human consumption,” Tiu Laurel said.
The confiscated shipment, containing 34 metric tons of white onions from China, was misdeclared as processed chicken karaage strips. It was consigned to Manila-based Leksei B. Specialized Goods Trading and arrived at Subic Port on 20 April. The shipment was then transported to a warehouse in Mexico, Pampanga, where it was seized by the Criminal Investigation Division Group (CIDG) on 26 April.
The DA’s Bureau of Plant Industry has not issued Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance for onions since February 2025. BPI director Gerald Glenn Panganiban has also ordered all National Plant Quarantine Services Division offices nationwide to heighten their vigilance thru strict surveillance and monitoring of warehouses and markets.
Secretary Tiu Laurel noted that while previous smuggling operations involved multiple container vans, this particular shipment was limited to two, prompting the DA to conduct thorough inspections in public markets to ensure consumer safety. He warned that consuming these contaminated onions could pose serious health risks, including potential fatalities due to significant salmonella ingestion.
CIDG Pampanga chief, Police Lt. Col. Joseph Almaquer, indicated that initial information they have gathered suggests the onions were being distributed to Divisoria and parts of Nueva Ecija. In response, Secretary Tiu Laurel has requested CIDG Region III’s assistance in investigating the recurring preference of smugglers to utilize Subic Port for such illegal activities.
The DA continues to urge the public to report any sightings of unauthorized white onions in markets to safeguard public health and support local agriculture.
