The Negros Federation of Dairy CooperativesProcessing Plantin Barangay La Granja,La Carlota City in Negros Occidental resumed operations yesterday after a two-day shutdown triggered by milk spoilage, Provincial Veterinarian Ranante Decena said yesterday.

The plant daily produces 200 to 400 liters of milk that is sold in Bacolod City and to local governments’ conducting feeding programs, he said.

On Sunday the plant on advice of the Department of Trade and Industrysuspended receiving milk for  processing due to reports that Gramoxonewas used to control weeds in certain areasnear the milk processing plant, NEFEDACO manager Rocendo Ocidoreported.

There wasmilk spoilageat the facility on Friday and  herbicide contamination was suspected, Decena said.

But their findings are that the spoilage was not caused by the herbicidebutby handling.There were electrical fluctuationsand a bigger milk can was usedto process a larger amount of milk that day, he said.

A Bureauof Plant Industry and Philippine Carabao Center team that conductedan ocular inspection of the area around theplant reportedthat the volatile componentsof herbicide usedhad already subsided,  due to absence of odor in the area .

 The team  also  noted that precautions were observedbefore the application of the herbicideand it was not done simultaneouslywith actual milk processing.*CPG

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