Expired Food Seized at Factory in Bekaa, Spoiled Fish in Beirut Warehouse

Inspectors from the Health Ministry seized on Friday a number of food products that violate safety standards at a factory in al-Rawda in the eastern Bekaa region, reported the National News Agency.

It said that the inspectors uncovered 2,500 kilograms of sugar without an expiry date or manufacturer on its labels.

In addition, 1,600 liters of ketchup that do not meet food safety standards were found.

About 4,500 bottles of lemon juice were seized for not having an expiry date label, while a quantity of expired dried apricot paste (qamareddine) was also discovered.

An assortment of canned beans, chickpeas, and other food was confiscated because of the rust that had developed on the cans, which also did not have an expiry date on the label.

The inspectors collected tomato paste from the facility to undergo lab tests, said NNA.

Furthermore, the spoiled food discovered at the food factory was disposed of under the surveillance of officials from the food safety campaign that was launched by Health Minister Wael Abou Faour in October 2014.

The factory was given a week to meet the required food safety standards.

In Beirut, Internal Security Forces raided a warehouse in the Bir Hassan neighborhood where they seized two tons of spoiled fish, reported MTV.

They confiscated a number of crates of cheese on suspicion that their expiry date may have been reached.

They have been taken for testing.

The owners of the products have been arrested and investigations are underway with them.

Abou Faour's campaign has so far led to the closure of slaughterhouses, restaurants, dairy factories and other institutions.

Joint parliamentary committees approved earlier in January a draft-law on food safety that is yet to be approved by the legislature.

M.T.

G.K.