Abou Faour Refers Airport Food Safety Case to General Prosecution

Health Minister Wael Abou Faour reiterated on Wednesday his determination to continue the food safety campaign throughout Lebanon, while focusing on the latest discoveries at the Rafik Hariri International Airport.

He said during a press conference before food safety inspectors: “The food safety file at the airport has been referred to the General Prosecution.”

On Tuesday, the minister detailed the findings at the facility, describing the food storage areas there as a “barn” and “death chambers for the citizens' health” and revealing that some products there have been expired since 1995.

He explained on Wednesday that more than 50 percent of the meat in Lebanon is imported, noting that the tons of food have to pass through the storage areas.

“We hope that we have resolved a major issue in corruption in food safety in Lebanon,” said Abou Faour of the situation at the airport.

He stressed however that his campaign has been and will be met with resistance, vowing to combat the “mafias” linked to the food safety file.

The minister added that he contacted the concerned authorities to clean up the storage areas and ordered customs agents to be vigilant in their inspections at the airport.

Abou Faour has been launching a campaign against institutions that have violated food safety standards.

His campaign has so far led to the closure of slaughterhouses, restaurants, dairy factories and other institutions.

*Photo credit: As Safir

M.T.