Tourism, Health Ministers Engage in War of Words as New Food Safety List Unveiled

Ministers engaged in a verbal spat over media outlets on Wednesday over the food safety scandal and the Health Minister Wael Abou Faour's technique in dealing with the matter.

Abou Faour slammed ministers and officials who criticized his ministry's food safety battle, revealing new names to the list of violating institutions as Tourism Minister Michel Pharaon said that the Health Ministry should be held accountable like the rest of the food safety violators.

“We expected a vengeful reaction over our spoiled food battle,” Abou Faour said during a press conference two days after he raised the alarm over food safety in the country.

He lashed out at Pharaon and Economy Minister Alain Hakim, saying that he “didn't expect skeptical statements by some ministers.”

“I regret the number of tourists who left Lebanon over the spoiled food scandal,” Abou Faour said sarcastically in a reply to a statement by Pharaon.

The minister stressed that the Progressive Socialist Party doesn't aim at creating rift between cabinet members amid the difficult political stage that the country is passing through.

He revealed that he had previously called for coordination meetings between the economy, tourism, health and interior ministries but only one was held.

Abou Faour wondered why some ministers are annoyed by the measures taken by the Health Ministry, calling on ministers to carry out their tasks.

Hakim had criticized on Wednesday the Health Minister's technique, stressing his ministry is “investigating violations and consumer protection cases”, while Pharaon accused Abou Faour of hitting tourism in the country.

Abou Faour also lashed out at the head of the Association of Restaurant Owners Tony Rami, who said on Wednesday that that the “food scandal” shouldn't affect the whole sector as food safety measures vary.

Abou Faour wondered how food safety measures vary, speculating if contaminated food is different between a place and another.

“The Lebanese are entitled to know what they are eating and drinking,” the health minister said, refusing to cover up for the owners of violating institutions.

Abou Faour revealed that his ministry had previously warned violating institutions several times before he headed to the press to announce the scandal.

“We will not bargain on the health of citizens.”

He stressed that any institution mentioned on the violations list could ask for another health inspection.

“Specialists will go and revise the case if the violations were cleared.”

“We will continue to announce the violating institutions until they fix the violations,” Abou Faour added, pointing out that health inspectors entered all areas including Beirut's southern suburbs of Dahiyeh and the eastern city of Baalbek.

He denied that the health inspectors were prevented from inspecting restaurants in Dahiyeh.

Abou Faour announced another list of violating restaurants and institutions:

Supermarket Keyrouz in Jdeidet Ghazir: Taouk, minced meat, sausage, chicken liver.

Keyrouz bakery in Jdeidet Ghazir: Cheese.

Monoprix in Jnah: Escalope.

TSC in Jnah: Minced meat.

Abou Joseph restaurant in Jal el-Dib: Sausages, taouk, kabab.

Abou Jihad restaurant in Jal el-Dib: Kabab, sausages, taouk.

Al-Halabi in Antelias: Kafta, taouk.

Supermarket Aoun at Kamil Chamoun Boulevard: Minced meat, fajita, taouk.

Wardini Institution in Sahel Alma: Sausages and soujouk (hot sausage).

Daafal Supermarket in Ashkout: Minced meat, hamburger.

Valair Supermarket: Kafta, Taouk, minced meat.

Taubri Supermarket: Red taouk.

Faddoul Supermarket in Kesrouan: Kafta, sausages, red taouk.

Adelco Supermarket in Kesrouan: Hamburger, minced meat.

Trust Supermarket in Kesrouan: Minced meat, kafta, hamburger.

Hachem Supermarket in Kesrouan: Kafta, shawarma, hamburger.

Fahd Supermarket in Furn el-Shebbak: Minced meat.

Spinney's Supermarket in Hazmieh: Minced meat, white taouk.

PSP chief Walid Jumblat said via twitter after Abou Faour's press conference that he backed him in battle against spoiled, adding it is aimed at protecting citizens.

“I support Abou Faour in his fight against corrupted ministers and food cartels.”

Soon after Abou Faour's press conference ended, Pharaon called on the Health Ministry to reveal its spoiled food “standards.”

“The health ministry, which hasn't acted in the past 20 years, should be held accountable like the rest of the food safety violators,” he noted.

However, Pharaon expressed solidarity with Abou Faour's steps despite some of his reservations on how he dealt with the matter.

“The Health Ministry should take other samples for tests from the same restaurants to make sure of the results.”

“We are concerned with the health of citizens and tourism as well.”

Some popular restaurant chains and supermarkets are serving customers food contaminated with bacteria and other inedible substances as 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.

Internal Security Forces moved after Abou Faour's press conference against institutions named in the minister's lists.

Violations tickets were filed against 39 establishments, ordering them to halt using the violating products.

H.K.

M.T.