A senior government official yesterday reassured the public about the stability of the country’s food supply as he visited several warehouses and markets during which he met traders and suppliers.
Industry and Commerce Minister Abdulla Fakhro conducted the field visits to retail outlets in co-ordination with the Bahrain Chamber.
“The visits form part of ongoing efforts to monitor market conditions, ensure adequate supplies of essential goods, and maintain price stability amid current developments,” said a ministry statement.
“Markets continue to witness sufficient availability of consumer goods, stable prices, and no unjustified increases, reflecting the resilience of supply chains and the effectiveness of regulatory oversight.”
The ministry warned that legal action will be taken against any violations, including price manipulation or withholding of goods.
Meanwhile, inspectors from the ministry conducted a separate field visit to a major food storage warehouse, where they emphasised that ample supplies of essential staple foods – including rice, sugar, potatoes, garlic, vegetables, and fruits – are available for the public.
The visit forms part of a wider campaign that will include inspections of major supermarkets across the kingdom to assess the availability and quantities of food items nationwide.
Inspectors thoroughly checked the stored goods in the warehouse to ensure that they were in good condition and had not spoiled.
“There is absolutely no need to panic because there is more than enough supply of food for everyone in the kingdom,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The authorities will periodically check supplies in storages and supermarkets across the country to assess not just the quantity, but also quality of products for consumers in Bahrain.
“It is expected that there will be no issues, whether in storages, supermarkets or your local cold stores.”
The GDN reported yesterday that there is no shortage of food or essential items in the market, a reassurance made by Bahrain Chamber’s Food Sector Committee head Khalid Al Amin, following instances of panic buying in some outlets. After Iranian missile attacks targeting the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet base in Juffair on Saturday, several stores saw a sudden surge of shoppers stocking up on groceries and meat products.
The ministry has urged people to report any wrongdoings such as price gouging, either by calling 80008001 or through the National Suggestions and Complaints system (Tawasul).
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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