Abu Faour orders seizure of food at Beirut port

BEIRUT: The Health Ministry Wednesday seized food shipments at Beirut port after samples tested positive for Aflatoxin, a dangerous type of bacteria.

A ministry statement said it had informed Agriculture Minister Akram Chehayeb, Finance Minister Ali Hasan Khalil and Economy Minister Alain Hakim that shipments of lentils, green coffee beans and peeled sesame were confiscated from Beirut’s port after tests revealed that the products did not meet food safety standards.

The ministry called on those ministries to conduct their own tests of the food products to determine whether or not they should be allowed to enter Lebanese markets.

Separately Wednesday, Health Ministry inspectors visited a number of slaughterhouses in the southern city of Sidon and in the Taamir neighborhood of Ain al-Hilweh, issueing warnings against one butchery and three chicken shops.

The ministry also raided a supermarket in the Mount Lebanon district of Aley where they seized quantities of meat that did not carry an expiry date label.

They also issued a warning against the Salloukh slaughterhouse in the Aley town of Qmatieh, after receiving a complaint. Inspectors ordered the abattoir to improve its sanitary standards, acquire a health certificate, adopt unified employee uniforms and stop displaying meat outside the store.

The state-run National News Agency reported Wednesday that the Batroun municipality’s official physician and a Health Ministry inspector visited restaurants in the towns of Kfar Halda, Basateen al-Assi and Beit Shlala.

Several warnings were issued against restaurants that didn’t hold health certificates and official licenses.