BEIRUT: Lebanese watched in shock and horror as Health Minister Wael Abu Faour revealed Tuesday that some popular restaurant chains and supermarkets are serving customers food that contains sewage and fecal matter.
With the nation already burdened by terrorism, sectarian division, and a raft of social and economic problems, Abu Faour revealed that failure to meet basic food safety standards posed a potentially deadly risk to citizens.
“I regret saying that the Lebanese don’t know what they’re eating, and if they did it would be a great catastrophe,” Abu Faour said at a news conference held at the ministry.
“I can say with a clear conscience, with corroboration from science, that Lebanese [food] is covered ... with disease and microbes.”
Major chains such as Spinneys, Hawa Chicken, Roadster Diner, Fahed Supermarket, Abdel Rahman Hallab, Kababji, MacDonald’s, Metro Supermarket, TSC Mega and Bedo were among those found to be storing items in violation of food safety protocols, Abu Faour said.
“The violations entail that certain [products] had microbes that could have negative health implications for Lebanese,” Abu Faour said, adding that some products tested positive for Salmonella and E. Coli.
The ministry issued a list of places, which included supermarkets, bakeries and restaurants found to be in violation of food safety requirements. In certain places, which Abu Faour did not name, bacteria were found in samples that were traced back to sewage.
Among the myriad of establishments examined by the ministry was Tanmiya, a fast food place.
The results revealed that the eatery had been falsely publishing production dates three months ahead to trick customers.
Referring to An-Natour Butcher Shop, Abu Faour said: “We found that they were using expired Brazilian meat.” The shop was since closed down for importing and distributing expired and diseased meat.
The shocking revelations were the result of a 20-day campaign that scrutinized 1,005 establishments across Lebanon and was carried out by the Health Ministry’s food safety inspectors.
Inspectors were tasked to examine food establishments and evaluate them for cleanliness, compliance with food safety protocols and the personal hygiene of employees, and to ensure legal certification was in order.
They also took samples of products being sold to the public for analysis.
Abu Faour said that 3,600 of the samples were sent to the laboratories of the Agriculture Ministry.
“The samples were taken from various kinds of food including red meat, chicken, chicken derivatives, frozen fish, bread, kaak and desserts, as well dairy products,” he added.
Abu Faour stressed that the aim of the inspection was neither to undermine the institutions found to be in violation nor affect their revenues. He said the campaign was crucial to secure the safety and health of Lebanese consumers.
Results of samples taken from Beirut establishments would be announced Thursday, he said, adding that similarly shocking outcomes were likely.
Places found to be in violation of safety codes would be given a warning and some establishments would be shut down until they meet standards.
The minister also listed other, less severe, violators, including establishments found to be reusing frying oils, putting toilets in close proximity to kitchens and placing food next to garbage.
Following Abu Faour’s revelations, some establishments, such as Kababji said they would retest their food products.
“We have taken the statement into consideration,” Eddy Massaad, Kababji’s general manager told The Daily Star. “We have our food safety system properly implemented which complies [with] international standards. We are going to take samples from the same product to test it at AUB’s lab and IRI [Industrial Research Institute] and get back to you with the results.”
Hoda Diab, a concerned citizen, said she was “surprised” by the revelations and could no longer trust any establishments when it came to food in Lebanon. Diab said that in the wake of the minister’s announcement she would no longer buy meat products, saying that the best solution might be to become a vegetarian.
For some, the results were far from shocking; they were expected.
“I wasn’t surprised,” said Zouhair Berro, head of Consumers Lebanon. “These tests confirmed what we’ve always been certain of.”
Although Berro said that the ministry’s clampdown was a step in the right direction, he added that it would not be complete without the implementation of a proper food law.
He said a good food law should govern all food-related sectors in Lebanon, and dictate proper food production.
“Monitoring is the last piece of the chain and it has some importance. What’s more important is creating the principles and systems for proper production,” Berro said, adding that the food should be monitored beginning with imported food and local produce. – Additional reporting by Justin Salhani
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