Prime Minister Salam Vows Zero Tolerance for Food Fraud: We Will Not Hesitate!

During an emergency meeting held at the Grand Serail dedicated to investigating cases of food poisoning and suspicions of fraud in food products, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated that "food safety is a responsibility that cannot be compromised." He said: "We must take all reports and circulating information regarding suspicions of fraud and tampering with food ingredients seriously, through procedures that integrate health monitoring, judicial investigations, oversight, and prevention."

He added: "We must follow up on cases and investigations. We listened to a presentation by the Minister of Public Health regarding medical cases reported by hospitals in Beirut, with suspicion of infection caused by Trichinella parasites. The ministry followed up on these reports and conducted field investigations and laboratory tests which revealed the presence of parasites in a sample of ground meat at the 'Nadiny' restaurant, amid suspicions, according to preliminary investigations, of mixing served meats with contaminated pork."

He continued: "The restaurant was completely closed and sealed with red wax, while investigations continue to determine the source of the meats and where the fraud occurred, whether inside the restaurant or at any other stage of the supply chain. In this context, the Public Prosecution will pursue necessary investigative procedures to identify responsibilities and take the harshest judicial measures against anyone proven responsible."

He further stated: Regarding preventive and regulatory measures, and to prevent the recurrence of such cases, we have launched a new framework for oversight and prevention led by the Lebanese Food Safety Authority, in cooperation with relevant ministries and concerned agencies, to ensure food safety throughout the supply chain, from import and production to storage and distribution, reaching the consumer."

He said: "We have tasked the Lebanese Food Safety Authority, in cooperation with relevant ministries, with preparing an immediate plan to inspect facilities including slaughterhouses and meat warehouses, and assess their compliance with health, technical, and legal requirements. Facilities must meet the required conditions within a short timeframe, under penalty of closure and taking penal and administrative measures against their owners. Security agencies will also conduct a comprehensive sweep of unlicensed warehouses and slaughterhouses, in coordination with the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities and governors to take appropriate action."

He added: "The Lebanese Food Safety Authority will coordinate efforts with the Ministries of Agriculture, Public Health, Economy and Trade, Industry, Interior and Municipalities, and security agencies under the supervision of the Public Prosecution. We will work to strengthen its institutional capabilities, complete its regulatory and executive apparatus, and secure the necessary human and technical resources to enable it to perform its duties and exercise full powers."

He pointed out that "food fraud is a crime that affects people's health, in addition to being a moral degradation, and we will not hesitate to follow up on this file until we know where the fraud occurred and who is responsible, leading to accountability for everyone proven responsible according to the law. People's health and the safety of their families are not subject to compromise, and this is a path I will pursue firmly and directly, through intensive meetings and procedures in the coming days."