DepEd suspends contract of overpriced noodles supplier

The Department of Education (DepEd) has suspended the contract of Jeverps Manufacturing Corporation (JMC), the supplier of noodles for the Food-For-School program because of allegations of overpricing and false nutritional claims.  According to DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus, JMC’s contract would stay suspended pending review and investigation.

A P284.13-M contract was awarded by DepEd to JMC in 2007 for “fortified noodles with fresh eggs”, and later in 2009, an additional P427.21-M for “fortified noodles with fresh eggs and malunggay”.

Results of a study on the noodles conducted by a testing agency in Vietnam revealed that “DepEd’s fortified instant noodle with fresh egg is made of flour and does not contain any fresh egg but mere egg powder.”

Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) records as of 19 February 2009 also showed that JMC has no record of license to operate.