Media Scope: Lebanese Eat Wastes

Local Editor

NEWSPAPER HEADLINES:

AS-SAFIR:

Harmful Bacteria in Meat and Chicken; Poisoned Water to Irrigate Vegetables

Dear Lebanese ... You Swallow Toxins!

AL-MUSTAQBAL:

Food Security Hits "Squares" of Corruption; Awaiting Bakeries Test

Military soldiers File: Bet on "Maloula" Scenario

AL-AKHBAR:

Lebanese Eat...

Hariri to Rai: I Won't Forget

THE DAILYSTAR:

Food scandal: Menu of death

AN-NAHAR:

Abu Faour to "Annahar": It is Unacceptable for Citizens to Eat Remains of Sewage

As the file of the abducted Lebanese soldiers witnesses no progress or new events, their families speak of escalation again. Meanwhile, the food file in Lebanon was the shocking talk of the town on Tuesday, after the scandal revealed by Health Minister Wael Abu Faour revealed that some popular restaurant chains and supermarkets are serving customers food that contains sewage and fecal matter.

On the security file, Al-Binaa newspaper noted that the file of the abducted soldiers remains in place without any progress, while their families have threatened to an ‘immediate escalation' in case there are no positive signs in the coming two days.

Sources told the Lebanese daily that the decision of the terrorists is to keep the abducted soldiers as hostages until they no longer need them, noting that the Nusra Front demand of Syria being involved in the matter is sort of a maneuver.

Also, the source mentioned that the ‘Qatari mediator called off his visit to Beirut, considering that he represents the abductees who do not seem to want to solve the matter in the current time.'

On the other hand, the Government of Tamam Salam assured that communication concerning the abducted soldiers has not been terminated, noting that the government is being discreet about the file so that it would not reflect negatively on the soldiers.

With the nation already burdened by terrorism, sectarian division, and a raft of social and economic problems, Abu Faour revealed that failure to meet basic food safety standards posed a potentially deadly risk to citizens.

"I regret saying that the Lebanese don't know what they're eating, and if they did it would be a great catastrophe," Abu Faour said at a news conference held at the ministry.
Major chains such as Spinneys, Hawa Chicken, Roadster Diner, Fahed Supermarket, Abdel Rahman Hallab, Kababji, MacDonald's, Metro Supermarket, TSC Mega and Bedo were among those found to be storing items in violation of food safety protocols, Abu Faour said.

"The violations entail that certain [products] had microbes that could have negative health implications for Lebanese," Abu Faour said, adding that some products tested positive for Salmonella and E. Coli.

The ministry issued a list of places, which included supermarkets, bakeries and restaurants found to be in violation of food safety requirements. In certain places, which Abu Faour did not name, bacteria were found in samples that were traced back to sewage.

According to As-Safir newspaper, Faour's revelation of particular names of restaurants and major chains constitutes a very bold step, yet what matters is that procedures should be taken towards major crisis through a strategic plan to combat such corruption. As-Safir emphasized that previous experiences proved to be either an attempt to track seasonal corrupt agents or for media and advertising purposes rather than taken seriously.

The paper adds, that what has been revealed so far is only ‘the tip of the iceberg'. A real confrontation to the file of food corruption is required, which states that the different ministries and institutions should come together to solve this crucial matter, the paper noted.

Moreover, Abou Faour assured to As-Safir that the microscopic tests have included restaurants, food chains, super and hyper markets all the way from Tyr to Akkar.

Source: Newspapers, translated and edited by website team