Bone-Crushing Factory in Beirut Indefinitely Shut as Farm Closed in Choueifat

Health Minister Wael Abou Faour announced on Friday the closure of a bone-crushing factory in Beirut and farm in the Choueifat region as part of his ongoing food safety campaign, reported the National News Agency.

He issued a decree ordering the indefinite closure of a bone-crushing factory in Beirut, located near the city's slaughterhouse, for dumping contaminated waste in the Beirut River.

The slaughterhouse was temporarily shut on Wednesday for reconstruction after it was found that it does not meet health standards.

In addition, a farm in Choueifat was temporarily closed for “failing to meet the least amount of health and hygiene conditions.”

It will be shut down permanently if it fails to meet legal and health requirements, added Abou Faour in his decree.

Meanwhile, in the southern city of Sidon, security forces closed al-Ghazieh slaughterhouse and the Aitour store, which sells poultry.

It also sealed with red wax the local Pizza Hut and Groumet patisserie.

The slaughterhouse in the northern city of Tripoli was temporarily closed on Thursday for failing to meet health standards regarding the way animals are killed and how the facility is maintained.

Abou Faour had in recent weeks launched a food safety campaign throughout Lebanon.

He had announced so far two other lists that includes some popular restaurant chains and supermarkets that are serving customers food contaminated with bacteria and other inedible substances.

Violations included the presence of flies on the refrigerators of dairy products, the presence of open garbage bins in kitchens, workers not wearing gloves, and frying oil that was not changed for months.

M.T.