HUNDREDS of expired, rotten and damaged food items were found in a warehouse in the Capital Governorate which was also operating as an illegal repacking facility.
Various violations were also detected during a routine inspection conducted by the Commerce, Industry and Tourism Ministry inspectors yesterday, including expired food items repacked under different dates and brand names.
The warehouse was also being used for illegally repacking and storing food items without a licence, revealed the ministry’s assistant under-secretary for control and resources Abdulaziz Al Ashraf.
“A warehouse was found containing food products where the data had been changed and items repacked under trade names different from the original, as well as operating as a storage and packaging facility without a licence,” he said in an official statement.
“During a routine inspection of a commercial establishment a judicial officer noticed stored quantities of expired, damaged and rotten food, in addition to usable food.
“The authorised activity for the shop was the trade and sale of food products but the location was not equipped for storage.”
Mr Al Ashraf also added that the inspection revealed that storing and packing operations carried out in the warehouse were illegal and did not adhere to the conditions imposed to ensure food safety and preservation.
He revealed that there were around 700 various expired products including rice flakes, rice flour, spices, tea, semolina, tamarind, wheat flour noodles and pickles that were being kept stored instead of being destroyed.
“The warehouse lacked the minimum requirements for storage and had open rice bags with mould near unexpired items that are being repacked under different trade names,” added Mr Al Ashraf.
“Rice was being repacked from 20kg bags into 5kg bags under a different brand name and the same was being done with sugar.
“According to the store’s records there were around 95,000 food products – most of which still had valid expiry dates – such as rice, sugar, rice chips, rice flour and various spices.
He added that the warehouse was seized by the authorities and a case referred to the Public Prosecution.
He urged traders to ensure they follow up operations carried out by their foreign partners regarding sources of goods being sold, selling and storage mechanisms and stressed the importance of adhering to regulations.
“Food fraud is one of the worst forms of corruption,” said Bahrain Chamber Food Wealth Committee chairman Khalid Al Ameen. “It impacts the health of customers and would be best described as ‘shameful behaviour’.”
Mr Al Ameen urged traders, merchants, food centres and vendors to work according to a code of honour and avoid harming people’s health and exposing themselves to closure, violations and fines.
The GDN reported last year that tonnes of expired food seized from a warehouse in Hamala had to be destroyed.
A total of 94,000 expired food items featuring rice, lentils, chickpeas, ground spices, pickles and tomato paste were included in the haul, some dating back to 2008.
The warehouse also contained equipment used to erase expiry dates on products, stickers carrying brand names and new fabricated expiry dates.
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