Hakim Follows Abou Faour's Steps, Decides to Close Violating Dairy Factories

Economy Minister Alain Hakim revealed on Tuesday that he will close several labneh factories for violating food safety regulations similarly to Health Minister Wael Abou Faour who recently kicked off a campaign against violating restaurants and institutions.

“These factories committed serious, first degree violations that directly affect the health of citizens as shown by tests and analyses,” Hakim said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.

“I am obliged to shut these factories down and name them as per the law, especially after the owners ignored warnings to rectify the conditions of the factories,” the minister added.

He denied that his move comes in light of Abou Faour's recent food safety campaign, saying: “It is the normal role of the ministry of economy.”

“We also took measures against several other institutions that violated the administrative work.”

The minister said that Laqlouq Labneh, Qaisar, Massabki, Center Jdeita, Shtaura Dairy products and Hawa Dairy are among the violators.

Hakim also said in comments to al-Liwaa newspaper that Prime Minister Tammam Salam and his cabinet are keen to preserve the ministerial solidarity regarding the food safety case.

“It became the policy of the cabinet and not one minister.”

For his part, Minister Abou Faour told As Safir that the “snowball is rolling and getting bigger ad no one will be able to stop it.”

The Health Minister expressed optimism over Hakim's endeavors to end violations.

“I am glad that my fellow ministers are now convinced with the importance of the food safety campaign and began implementing it,” he noted.

Abou Faour has so far announced three lists of violating institutions that include some popular restaurant chains and supermarkets that are serving customers food contaminated with bacteria and other inedible substances.

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.