BEIRUT: The Economy Ministry is investigating claims of health violations in two supermarkets in the country, saying authorities would take legal measures against the regional chain TSC if the allegations were confirmed.
“A Consumer Protection Unit under the Economy Ministry inspected all TSC branches in Lebanon and took samples from items in fridges and on display shelves,” Minister Alain Hakim said in a statement Wednesday.
“The ministry will take the necessary legal measures within its jurisdiction and in accordance with the consumer protection law to fine the company in case of an issue in one of the samples and refer the violations to the state prosecutor's office.”
Last week, Al-Jadeed Television aired two reports on TSC, or The Sultan Center, alleging that cats were infiltrating the Jnah branch and nibbling on cold cuts and sausages in the display fridge.
The local television published pictures from inside the supermarket, showing remains of cold cuts and cats inside the storage facility.
The second report aired a video, allegedly taken by a health inspector, showing dirt on the floor while the shooter of the video yelled at kitchen workers over how they placed the chicken and meat.
The second report was in the Jounieh branch of TSC, a Kuwaiti retail company that has eight branches in Lebanon and several others in Oman, Bahrain and Jordan.
In its statement, the ministry urged citizens “not to be afraid or frightened” and insisted it was taking care of it.
It also urged people to report any violation through the 1739 hotline or the phone application.
“The Economy Ministry had sent a letter to the Health Ministry, asking it to have hospitals inform the Economy Ministry of cases of food poisoning to track possible health violations,” it said.
Lebanon has been hit in the past three years with scandals involving rotten meat and expired dairy and meat products in storage facilities and supermarkets across the country. The government had arrested several people involved in such scandals.
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