Pagpag: A Delicious meat from Gutter.

Have you ever dared to eat chicken or any meat that is directly taken off from gutter or maybe from the leftovers thrown by the restaurants? I don’t think so. But, you will be shocked to know that people in the Philippines eat this food daily known as Pagpag. Gods know about the health hazard involved in after eating this. I got amazed after seeing the people eating this and saying “None of us ever got ill after eating this we cannot resist eating Pagpag”.

Image source: Asian Boss

It is obvious affluent people won’t eat Pagpag. The exact target customers are the needy, poor people who don’t have enough money to take a proper 3-time meal. Although, the Philippines government boasted about the Economic growth of the country but still slum dwellers of Manilla, the Philippines starving to hunger. As an economist, I can say that there is an issue of unequal distribution of wealth. There is one stratum of people who prefer eating in renowned restaurants like McDonald's while the other stratum people dependent on the leftovers of these high-end restaurants.

Image source: Asian Boss

Asian Boss a youtube channel once visited this slum they met Mama Rosita, a cook and vendor of Pagpag, recently shared with Asian Boss how she has been selling recycled food for six years now. Asked what if any people get in bed after eating this Pagpag. She said confidently and with a very mild voice that “She never found any people complaining about stomachache or any other disease after consuming it. We take proper care, we first wash the meat with water and then boil it and finally put into frying pan this ensures us that food is now safe to eat”.

How Pagpag is collected?

Various collectors collect the leftover from various restaurants. The same person who cleans our society and along with that waste the remains of the chicken and other meat also got collected. After that, at around 1-2 A.M. that leftovers come to the buyers, those who receive first will get the best quality of leftovers but they had to pay the price around 60-100 Pesos.

Is it safe to eat Pagpag?

Image source: google

The government of the Philippines already ban the selling of Pagpag by saying that people start spraying chemicals on the meat to store it for a longer time. Sometimes, it has been found that even the meats that contain worm get freshen by using that spray. Both the sellers and buyers don’t have any problem consuming it so, this is not a heinous crime in selling and eating Pagpag.

So, what are your views regarding this bizarre food? Share your thoughts down below.

-Authored by Sahil Gupta (MBA in Marketing & Finance, Sri Balaji University, Pune).