Third warehouse storing expired food products raided in Manama

A third warehouse was raided in Manama yesterday as authorities continued to crack down on gangs involved in selling food products that were either expired or unfit for human consumption.

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More than 13,000 food items were seized from the warehouse by inspectors from the Industry, Commerce and Tourism Ministry in co-operation with other government entities.

The ministry’s resources and services assistant under-secretary Abdulaziz Al Ashraf said other locations have been identified across the country where the gang reportedly supplied the expired food products.

“The bulk of the 13,000 food items seized from the warehouse in the Capital Governorate included 600 pickle jars.

“We found moulds and bugs in these pickle jars despite the expiry year printed on them being 2021.”

He said this raised questions on the authenticity of the other seized products from the warehouse which included salt, mayonnaise, vine leaves, ketchup, coconut powder and other items.

Investigations revealed that the warehouse was abandoned since March last year, with large containers of food items stored in poor condition.

“During the raid we found out that the warehouse owner is one of the people involved in the warehouse raided in Hamala.

“The same brands of food products were seized in the Hamala warehouse.”

More than 80,000 expired food products, some dating back to 2008, were seized from the Hamala warehouse.

The items included rice, lentils, chickpeas, ground spices, pickles, tomato paste, vine leaves, corn and coconut paste, among others.

The warehouse also contained equipment used to erase expiry dates on products, and stickers carrying brand names with new fabricated expiry dates.

Days later, the ministry raided a second warehouse in Hoora and seized large quantities of expired food products.

Mr Al Ashraf said efforts are underway to verify the authenticity of the products. He also said the violators could even be forging the expiry dates.

“Intensified inspections identified 20 different products found in two shops in Manama that were seized and legal procedures were taken.”

He urged traders to be vigilant and have proper documents stating the origin of the products, and food safety rules.

“Traders should ensure they have purchase orders that have full description of the products.

“We urge businesses to only deal with licensed traders and not those who don’t have a Commercial Registration.

“The ministry will take strict action against violators who breach the public safety law that affects the Bahraini market.”

Violations can be reported on 80001700.