Abou Faour Says 18 Beirut Abattoir Workers Died of Cancer, Reveals New List of Violating Firms
Health Minister Wael Abou Faour slammed on Wednesday the situation at the Beirut slaughterhouse, demanding a judicial investigation in the case following the revelation that a number of its workers are suffering or passed away from diseases caused from exposure to the poor conditions at the establishment.
He said during a press conference: “Eighteen to 19 workers died of cancer due to the poor hygiene at the facility.”
“Is the management of the slaughterhouse aware of this fact?” he wondered.
In addition, he said that a number of other employees are suffering from diseases linked to the poor conditions at the establishment, accusing the director of the slaughterhouse of being aware that the “workers are dying, while hiding the reports from the Beirut municipality.”
The minister demanded that the judiciary tackle the case, while calling for a forensic investigation in the matter.
Abou Faour also aired a video showing how animals are slaughtered at the facility, which was recently closed after it failed to meet food safety conditions.
He showed photographs of corroded pipes at the slaughterhouse, asking: “If the substances used at the establishment caused such damage to iron, what kind of damage is being caused to the humans and animals?”
He then presented a new list of establishments that are violating food safety standards, remarking that for the first time since he launched his campaign, inspectors discovered more institutions that meet the requirements than ones that don't.
He said that 294 establishments met the requirements, while 29 do not meet the conditions.
Some institutions that previously did not meet safety standards have since made improvements and now meet the required conditions, he revealed.
The violating establishments include:
- Al-Rayyes Restaurant: Chicken breast / Kfar Saroun in al-Koura
- Olivo Verde Restaurant: Chicken breast and Australian hamburger meat / al-Koura
- Jabbour Restaurant: Chicken breast / al-Koura
- Abou Khalil supermarket: Hamburger / Bohsas
- Qadisha Coop slaughterhouse: Chicken legs and wings / Tripoli
- Hamza supermarket: Halloumi cheese / Bint Jbeil
- Goodies supermarket: Hamburger meat / Bint Jbeil
- Al-Jundi Restaurant: Chicken / Baalbek
- One One: Kafta / Marjeyoun
- Rashed: Chicken shawarma / Marjeyoun
- Kababji Restaurant: Minced meat and chicken taouk / Baabda
- Idris Supermarket in Hamra was requested to improve hygiene
- La Terrasse: Chopped meat / Raouche, Beirut
- Pros Cafe: Meat Fahita and Mozzarella sticks / Dekwaneh
- Nahla burger slaughterhouse: Hamburger / Tripoli
- Youssef Ibrahim slaughterhouse: Hamburger
- Al-Bayader slaughterhouse: Raw meat / Marjeyoun
In addition, Abou Faour listed a number of slaughterhouses that have been temporarily shut until they meet the necessary requirements, revealing a number of others that received warnings to improve their conditions.
M.T.
Y.R.
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