MANILA, Nov. 14 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) has intensified its surveillance of supermarkets and wet markets nationwide to ensure proper handling and labeling of frozen meat, amid growing concerns over food safety and unfair retail practices.

In a news release Friday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said he had already ordered the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS), Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), and National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) to conduct stricter inspections and ensure retailers' compliance with proper labeling and storage regulations.

"Frozen meat must be properly labeled and stored," he said.

"Retailers cannot pass off frozen products as fresh. Food safety and fair trade are ...