MP Basma Mubarak calls for stricter checks on imported and local produce

TDT | Manama

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MP Basma Mubarak has urged tougher checks on imported and locally produced food, following a case involving tampered expiry dates.

She backed the legal steps taken so far and said investigations must be left to run their course without interference.

Twenty-nine individuals have been charged selling and storing food unfit for consumption, tampering with product details, and using misleading labels to make the goods appear safe for sale.

Prosecutors pursue an investigation into, in particular, claims that expired food was relabelled and resold with false expiry dates.

Suspects

They include owners, senior staff and workers linked to Aswaq Al Daaysi W.L.L. and its warehouse arm, Al Daaysi Distribution W.L.L. Both have been ordered shut, along with the company’s food shops across the country.

A recently arrived worker lodged a complaint with Budaiya Police Station, stating he had been pressured to alter expiry dates on spoiled stock.

He refused to take part, recorded the process on video, and handed the evidence to police.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce responded by sealing off the warehouse and shops, before referring the matter to the Public Prosecution.

Case

The case is being handled by the Public Prosecution, which she said must be allowed to carry out its work independently.

Mubarak welcomed the rapid response by the relevant agencies and the speed with which background checks were launched.

The lawmaker said early reports pointing to the sale and promotion of rotten food were deeply troubling.

Clear answers

She has asked the authorities for clear answers on several points: how much of the food made it into shops before it was seized, what types of products were involved, how risky they may be to health, and whether any danger to the public has been assessed.

“People have a right to know if any of this ended up on their dinner table,” she said, “and whether it’s safe or has been pulled from the shelves,” MP Mubarak said.

She also praised the part played by individual reports from workers and members of the public, saying they show how awareness is growing across the community.

Visits

Mubarak called for more visits to storage facilities and stronger oversight of food firms. She said this should apply to importers and manufacturers alike.

Both the buyer and the trader, she added, must be protected. But traders must also keep close tabs on what happens in their warehouses and shops.